U.S. patent application number 12/007435 was filed with the patent office on 2008-07-24 for anchor sheet and attachment devices.
This patent application is currently assigned to Tac-Fast Georgia L.L.C.. Invention is credited to Joseph Rocco Pacione.
Application Number | 20080172968 12/007435 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 23273056 |
Filed Date | 2008-07-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080172968 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Pacione; Joseph Rocco |
July 24, 2008 |
Anchor sheet and attachment devices
Abstract
A method and apparatus for connecting anchor sheets to each
other and/or to a floor. The approach includes using attachment
pieces which fit into an area of reduced thickness of the anchor
sheet which surround a cut away of the anchor sheet. In one
embodiment, the attachment pieces are corners which overlap areas
of reduced thickness on a number of anchor sheets.
Inventors: |
Pacione; Joseph Rocco;
(Newmarket, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OGILVY RENAULT LLP
1981 MCGILL COLLEGE AVENUE, SUITE 1600
MONTREAL
QC
H3A2Y3
omitted
|
Assignee: |
Tac-Fast Georgia L.L.C.
Atlanta
GA
|
Family ID: |
23273056 |
Appl. No.: |
12/007435 |
Filed: |
January 10, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11065037 |
Feb 25, 2005 |
7383663 |
|
|
12007435 |
|
|
|
|
10004834 |
Dec 7, 2001 |
7096632 |
|
|
11065037 |
|
|
|
|
PCT/CA00/00681 |
Jun 7, 2000 |
|
|
|
10004834 |
|
|
|
|
09326634 |
Jun 7, 1999 |
|
|
|
PCT/CA00/00681 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/403.1 ;
52/745.05 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10S 52/13 20130101;
A47G 27/0293 20130101; A47G 27/0475 20130101; A47G 27/0468
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
52/403.1 ;
52/745.05 |
International
Class: |
E04F 15/18 20060101
E04F015/18 |
Claims
1-28. (canceled)
29. A plurality of anchor sheets laid onto a floor, without
substantial attachment to the floor, to form a subfloor that, when
combined with a decorative covering, is of sufficient mass and
rigidity to free float on the floor without buckling or movement
when walked upon, at least one anchor sheet of the subfloor
comprising: a plastic sheet having a thickness of between 0.020
inches and 0.75 inches, the sheet having a first surface and a
second surface, the first surface being substantially covered in
hooks of a hook and loop attachment system for detachable
attachment to a decorative covering; and the second surface being
free of attachment means to the supporting substrate so that the
anchor sheet may free float when installed on the floor.
30. The plurality of anchor sheets of claim 29, wherein the sheet
has a thickness in the range from 0.062 inches to 0.75 inches.
31. The plurality of anchor sheets of claim 30, wherein the sheet
has a thickness of around 0.125 inches.
32. The plurality of anchor sheets of claim 29, wherein the sheet
is made of polypropylene or polyethylene.
33. The plurality of anchor sheets of claim 30, wherein the anchor
sheet and hooks are injection molded and formed in a single
injection molded piece.
34. The plurality of anchor sheets of claim 33, further comprising
a cushion attached to the second surface.
35. The plurality of anchor sheets of claim 34, wherein the anchor
sheet has a polygonal shape.
36. The plurality of anchor sheets of claim 35, wherein the anchor
sheet is rectangular.
37. The plurality of anchor sheets of claim 36, wherein a side of
the anchor sheet has a length in the range from two feet to four
feet.
38. The plurality of anchor sheets of claim 29, wherein the anchor
sheet has a substantially flat lower portion and a substantially
flat upper portion, in which the upper portion is offset from the
lower portion along an edge thereof to expose a part of the lower
portion.
39. The plurality of anchor sheets of claim 38, wherein the upper
portion is offset from the lower portion an equal amount along two
adjacent edges to expose two adjacent parts of the lower
portion.
40. The plurality of anchor sheets of claim 29, further comprising
an area countersunk from the first surface for installation of an
attachment device within the countersunk area.
41. The plurality of anchor sheets of claim 40, further comprising
a complete cut through the anchor sheet, the cut through area being
located within the countersunk area.
42. The plurality of anchor sheets of claim 40, wherein the
countersunk area is centred on a corner.
43. The plurality of anchor sheets of claim 38, wherein the
portions have the same thickness.
44. The plurality of anchor sheets of claim 38, wherein the
portions have different thicknesses.
45. A method of installing an anchor sheet and attachment device
subfloor onto a floor, the subfloor to receive a detachable
decorative covering, said anchor sheets having an upper surface
having a means for detachable attachment to the decorative covering
and a section of reduced thickness of a first area of a first
shape, comprising the steps of: laying the anchor sheets onto a
floor; inserting the attachment devices in the sections of reduced
thickness; and attaching at least some of the attachment devices to
either the floor or to the surrounding anchor sheets.
46. The method of claim 45, wherein the anchor sheets are designed
to overlap and the step of laying the anchor sheets over a floor
includes laying the anchor sheets in overlapping fashion over a
floor.
47. The method of claim 45 wherein the attachment devices are
smaller than the first areas and in which the step of laying the
anchor sheets over a floor comprises laying the anchor sheets over
a floor so that there is a gap between adjacent anchor sheets.
48. An anchor sheet for use in a subfloor for detachable attachment
to a decorative covering, the anchor sheet comprising: a plastic
sheet having a thickness of between 0.062 inches and 0.75 inches,
the sheet having a first surface and a second surface, the first
surface being substantially covered in hooks of a hook and loop
attachment system; and a cushion attached to the second
surface.
49. The anchor sheet of claim 48, wherein the anchor sheet and
hooks are injection molded and formed in a single injection molded
piece.
50. The anchor sheet of claim 48, wherein the anchor sheet has a
substantially flat lower portion and a substantially flat upper
portion, in which the upper portion is offset from the lower
portion along an edge thereof to expose a part of the lower
portion.
51. The anchor sheet of claim 48, further comprising a countersunk
area for installation of an attachment device.
52. The anchor sheet of claim 48, further comprising an attachment
device mounted thereto.
53. The anchor sheet of claim 29, further comprising an attachment
device mounted thereto.
54. The anchor sheet of claim 45, further comprising an attachment
device mounted thereto.
55. A subfloor comprising a rigid plastic or polymer anchor sheet
of between 0.020 inches and 0.75 inches and substantially covered
with hooks, being one half of a hook and loop attachment system,
the anchor sheet located intermediate between an overlaying
decorative covering and a supporting substrate, in which the anchor
sheet serves to tie together the decorative covering pieces into a
contiguous decorative surface, and in which the anchor sheet is
free of attachment means to the supporting substrate, and wherein
the thickness and rigidity of the anchor sheet is such that the
combined anchor sheet and decorative covering have sufficient
rigidity and mass to remain in place without substantial buckling
or movement when laid onto the supporting substrate without
substantial attachment to the supporting substrate.
56. A subfloor composed of a plurality of injection molded anchor
sheets attached together by an attachment device that allows for
motion between the sheets in the plane of the subfloor and having
attached thereby on a lower surface a cushion.
57. The subfloor of claim 55, wherein the anchor sheet is injection
molded and formed in a single injection molded piece including
hooks.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 11/065,037 filed Feb. 25, 2005, which
application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
10/004,834 filed Dec. 7, 2001, which application is a continuation
of International Patent Application No. PCT/CA00/00681 filed Jun.
7, 2000 designating the United States, which application is a
continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/326,634
filed Jun. 7, 1999, abandoned. All of these applications are
incorporated herein by reference. International Patent Application
No. PCT/CA00/00681 was published in English under Article 21 of the
Patent Cooperation Treaty under WO 00/74544 on Dec. 14, 2000.
INTRODUCTION TO THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention concerns improvements to attach a flexible
but relatively rigid anchor sheet for use under carpets or other
decorative coverings as described in current inventor's U.S.
application Ser. No. 08/850,726 filed May 2, 1997, 09/008,565 filed
Jan. 16, 1998 and 09/008,584 filed Jan. 16, 1998. This application
incorporates by reference the teachings of these earlier
applications except where those teachings may have been modified by
new developments as set out herein. The current inventor has
invented an anchor sheet which, when installed, acts to tie
decorative covering together as a functional unit and to add mass
and stability to such unit, particularly in the case of a unit
having a flexible decorative covering such as a carpet. The anchor
sheet may be substantially covered over one side with hooks for
anchoring a decorative covering to it by engagement of
complementary loops on the under side of the decorative covering.
The anchor sheet itself may be attached to the underlying
substrate, such as a floor or wall, or it may be loose laid on a
floor where the anchor sheet can have sufficient mass so as to
prevent movement of the anchor sheet. The present invention
provides attachment devices so as to minimize attachment of the
anchor sheet to the underlying substrate, and to allow for the
possibility of spacing between anchor sheet units in order to
accommodate atmospheric changes. It is possible to supply the
anchor sheet in modular units of various geometric shapes and sizes
with corresponding complementary corner pieces.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The earlier cases by the same inventor Pacione disclose an
anchor sheet which can be supplied as a small or large module, with
or without a pre-attached decorative covering, These earlier cases
also disclose the anchor sheet as a modular unit which can form a
contiguous mass of anchor sheet. Such a contiguous mass can be
formed by attaching the anchor sheets together by some form of
overlap or by abutting the anchor sheets to each other and using
an, overlap of decorative covering or tape. Such mass can be free
floating or attached to the floor.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The current invention relates to attachment devices for such
modular anchor sheets which when abutting or overlapped can be held
to the underlying floor by the use of the attachment devices or
glued together by use of the attachment devices so as to form
totally or partially free floating units. In particular, if the
attachment devices are attached to the underlying substrate by
means of the structure shown in this application, the anchor sheets
can be made more relatively free floating, which can provide for
expansion and contraction between the modular sheets.
[0005] There are advantages to having the anchor sheet attached at
only a few discrete attachment points, or even in some cases not
attached at also as to be easily removeable. If the anchor sheet
covering is formed from modular units and is attached in such a way
that there is some relative movement between the modules, this will
allow for a more stable anchor sheet product which can expand and
contract to accommodate atmospheric changes such as temperature and
humidity. It is envisaged that the anchor sheet can be made of
polyethylene or polypropylene, but even these materials change in
size as much as one-quarter inch over the size of a normal room
because of temperature changes. Therefore, there are advantages to
allowing some form of spacing or floating between the modular
units. In addition, there are advantages to providing for a system
whereby the anchor sheets form a contiguous mass without a large
number of attachment locations to the underlying substrate and
without having to drill through the anchor sheets themselves.
[0006] Frequently, it is advisable to form a two-layer anchor sheet
as shown, for instance in FIG. 31 in patent application Ser. No.
09/008,565. The top and bottom layers are offset from each other so
as to form an overlap or underlay on each module matched with the
corresponding overlap or underlay on a corresponding module. Two
layers can be attached by hook and loop or glued, co-extruded
together, or injection moulded to form a modular piece. Typically,
such modular piece would be in the form of a square tile. Typically
areas where the tiles abut, particularly the corners, could be
areas of weakness where the anchor sheet might shatter or break, or
where areas of discontinuity on the surface of the anchor sheet may
become apparent.
[0007] In order to minimize attachment of these modular forms of
anchor sheet to the underlying substrate and also to provide for
the possibility of floating between such anchor sheets, the
applicant has invented a new attachment structure which includes a
modification to the anchor sheet itself generally at the corners
and a corresponding complementary corner-piece a matching geometric
relationship which presses and holds the four corners together to
the substrate while at the same time allowing for the anchor sheets
to ride underneath the cornerpiece when required in order to
provide for expansion and contraction.
[0008] Thus, the invention in one aspect consists of an anchor
sheet having edges and comprising a generally polygonal anchor
sheet having a cut of a predetermined first geometric shape
reducing the thickness of the anchor sheet in a first area
surrounding the apex of the angles of the edges of the sheet, the
sheet having a second cutaway portion of a smaller second area
within the first area of a predefined second geometric shape, so
that when the anchor sheet is laid side by side along its straight
edges with a corresponding anchor sheet, the respective first area
and second area line up to form a first reduced thickness area at
the corner surrounding the point where the apexes of the sheets
would have met and a second cut-away area within the first area so
that the anchor sheet is cut away at the point where the apexes of
abutting anchor sheets would otherwise meet.
[0009] Matching the geometric areas formed by the first reduced
thickness area and second cutaway portions of the polygonal anchor
sheets are complementary matching cornerpieces. The complementary
matching cornerpieces are in their area of maximum thickness the
same as the thickness of a complementary anchor sheet, and are of
an overlapping geometric shape matching the first reduced thickness
portion and having an underlay matching the second cut away
geometric shape defined by the abutting anchor sheets.
[0010] The invention can also be adapted to anchor sheets which are
overlapped as previously described in the Pacione applications
referred to above. In this aspect the invention consists of an
anchor sheet for anchoring a decorative covering to a floor in
which a generally polygonal sheet having at least one edge which
has a lower portion which has been cut away to create an
overhanging area of anchor sheet along that edge and a first lower
portion edge under the overhang and at least a second edge of the
anchor sheet has an upper portion cut away to create an underlaying
area of a second lower portion edge alone that second edge so that
the overhanging area of one anchor sheet can overlap the
underlaying area of an abutting second anchor sheet, the
improvement which comprises a first area of reduced thickness
surrounding the apex of the angles formed by the edges of the first
and second lower portions and a second smaller area within the
first area cut away around the point where the apexes of lower
portions of abutting anchor sheets would meet.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 shows an anchor sheet in a simple form with an
underpad according to this invention.
[0012] FIG. 2 shows an anchor sheet in plan view having overlapping
edges in addition to the cutaway portions for the cornerpieces.
[0013] FIG. 3 shows the cornerpiece to be used with certain
geometric shapes of anchor sheets.
[0014] FIG. 4 shows the anchor sheet and corner piece (in partial
section).
[0015] FIG. 5 shows a corner piece in section with attached cushion
and countersunk attachment points.
[0016] FIG. 6 is a section view of an anchor sheet along the lines
6-6 in FIG. 2 (on the same page as FIG. 5).
[0017] FIG. 7 is a plan view of a corner piece (on the same page as
FIG. 5).
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0018] As shown in FIG. 1, an anchor sheet 1 is provided, which in
this case is in the shape of a square, one of the preferred shapes.
It is also possible to have the anchor sheet 1 provided in any
shape that can be conveniently abutted with another similar piece
to create a floor pattern such as, for instance, a rectangle, a
hexagon or an octagon. Generally the preferred shape will be an
equilateral polygon but a rectangle may also work in some cases.
The anchor sheet 1 contains a top surface layer 3 having hooks. In
this embodiment anchor sheet 1 also contains the cushion 5 to
provide resilience to the anchor sheet and to a decorative
covering, such as for example, a carpet overlaid on top of the
anchor sheet. However, cushioning is not necessary for the
functioning of anchor sheet 1, but such cushioning can have
advantages depending on the overlayment to be used and the intended
use of the anchor sheet. In alternative embodiments, cushion 5 may
also be replaced with a structure that will provide roughly
equivalent resiliency to a cushion 5.
[0019] In practice, the hooks of the top surface layer 3 will be
attached to the loops of an overlying carpet (not shown) when an
entire anchor sheet subfloor has been installed. The anchor sheet
has a thickness A The appropriate thickness A will depend on the
intended use of the anchor sheet, and may vary with the type of
overlayment to be used. The thickness A will not be substantially
less than 0.020 inches and generally will not be less than 0.062
inches. The preferred thickness A is around 0.125 inches, but the
thickness A may be as much as 0.75 inches, for example in
situations where a thick floor is to be replaced, or where a thick
anchor sheet needs to be used to create a level surface with an
adjacent surface. Cutaway from that thickness is an area 7 which
will be shaped into some geometric shape, in this case a portion of
a circle, so that when combined with similar abutting anchor sheets
aligned along sides 9 and 11, a % circular cut out area will be
formed. A fourth anchor sheet diagonally opposite anchor sheet 1
will form a complete circle having a circular cut out area and a
"hole" 14 as described below. Typically, the cutout area will be
such that the width of the anchor sheet at 13 will be approximately
half of the total thickness A of the anchor sheet. However, the
width of the anchor sheet at 13 may be other than approximately
half the total thickness A and still incorporate the teachings of
this patent. In addition, there is a second area 14 which has been
cut away from the corner (the apex of the angle formed by the two
sides of the square). This second area 14 also has a geometric
shape, in this example a 1/4 of a circle, so that when combined
with other anchor sheets, the anchor sheet edges are lined up so
that their corners meet at the imaginary intersection of the four
corners, and a second smaller circle will be formed in the
completed anchor sheet structure.
[0020] Thus, a circular cut away area 14 within a second larger
circular cut out area 7 is created when four similar anchor sheets
abut each other as shown in FIG. 2. A complementary corner piece
can then be added which will match the shape and thickness of the
reduced thickness portion and the shape and thickness of the
cutaway area as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. This corner piece can be
attached to area 7 by glue or other permanent attachment or by
detachable attachment such as pressure sensitive adhesive or a hook
and loop Fastening devices such as hook and loop or a screw or nail
can be used to attach the corner pieces to a floor thereby holding
the anchor sheet to the floor at only a few discrete points by use
of the corner pieces, with or without direct attachment to the
anchor sheets.
[0021] Only a minimal number of corner pieces may need attachment
to the floor to stabilize the unit. The corner pieces generally
need to be attached to the anchor sheet or to the floor. In some
cases, the corner pieces are not attached to the floor but only to
the anchor sheets themselves so as to allow the complete unit to
float freely over the floor. If the corner pieces are only attached
to the floor, the anchor sheets can "ride" under them. In some
installations, some of the corner pieces will be attached to the
floor while other corner pieces are only attached to the anchor
sheets.
[0022] Alternatively, if the corner pieces are attached to the
anchor sheets at area 7 by glue or some other means of attachment,
then the whole unit can free float by not attaching the corner
pieces to the floor.
[0023] The arrangement of anchor sheet modules and corner pieces
where there are overlapping anchor sheets can be seen in FIG. 2. In
FIG. 2, a plurality of anchor sheets 111 are shown. In this example
they are squares. Unlike the embodiment in FIG. 1 however, these
anchor sheets 111 do not abut each other in one plane only. Rather,
the anchor sheets 111 in this embodiment have an underlay area 15
in which there is a lower portion edge 16. Underlay area 15 is
indicated in FIG. 2 by a grid marking, but underlay area 15 is part
of anchor sheet 111. Underlay area 15 lies under the overlap area
19 on an adjacent sheet. The overlap area 19 in this example
extends on two sides of each sheet, whereas the underlay area 15
extends on the other two sides. The overlap area 19 overlaps the
underlay area 15 of each sheet, for instance, along the area 20
shown in FIG. 2 (the area between the top abutment edge at the
dotted line). An area of reduced thickness 21 is formed surrounding
where the apex of the underlay edges 15 would have been of the
square. In this case, the cutout is centred over the area of
abutment for instance at 23 of the lower portion edges of the
anchor sheet. It is not centred over the corner line of abutment 25
created by the overlap edges extending over the area of overlap 19.
In addition to the reduced thickness area 21 (similar to area 7 in
FIG. 1) there is a completely cutaway portion 23.
[0024] FIG. 3 shows a corner piece 31 which consists of a lower
portion 33 which matches in geometric shape the cutaway portion 35
shown in FIG. 3, a shape that will be formed by all of the abutting
pieces 37 of lower edge portions of anchor sheet. (This lower
portion 33 will therefore normally be shaped to correspond to the
shape of the cut away portion 23 from FIG. 2) In this case, it is a
simple circle. This will be the preferred shape, although, of
course polygons or other shapes are also possible and the upper
portion of the corner piece 39 need not be the same shape as the
cut away portion 35.
[0025] The upper portion of the corner piece 39 will be shaped to
correspond to the cutaway portion 41. Again, this is a circle but
could be another shape, particularly an equilateral polygon. In
FIG. 3 the corner piece could be attached to the anchor sheet in
the cutaway portion area 41 and thus form an attachment between
four contiguous anchor sheets modules. Typically, if the corner
pieces are attached to the floor but not to the anchor sheds, the
radius of lower portion 33 will be less than the radius of cut-away
portion 35, and the radius of upper portion of corner piece 39 will
be less than the radius of cutaway portion 41 to allow for
atmospheric expansion of the anchor sheets.
[0026] In cases where the corner pieces are only going to be
attached to the anchor sheets (allowing the anchor sheets and
corner piece subfloor to free-float over the floor) it is not
necessary to have cut-away portion 35 in the anchor sheet and
corresponding lower portion 33 in the corner piece. In this case,
the lower surface of upper portion of the corner piece 39 will be
attached to cutaway portion 41.
[0027] FIG. 4 shows illustrates the use of corner pieces 31 of FIG.
3 with the anchor sheets 111 of FIG. 2. Corner pieces 31 are shown
in partial section view. Specific corner piece 113 is shown placed,
within circle 115 created by the corners of the four adjacent
anchor sheets 111.
[0028] The corner pieces 31 could be attached to the underlying
floor by use of a screw 42 as shown in FIG. 7, or the anchor sheet
could remain free-floating if there is sufficient mass to provide
for stability, particularly when an overlying decorative covering,
such as a carpet, is attached to the anchor sheet. Space 119 may be
maintained in the screw hole 121 by having the radius of screw hole
121 be larger than the radius of screw 42, allowing for movement of
the corner pieces 31.
[0029] As shown in FIG. 5, it is also possible to have the screw
countersunk In this case if the Anchor sheet has a cushion 45, a
rigid layer 43 is provided attached to the cushion 45. A plug 47 is
removed from the rigid layer 43 and cushion 45. After the screw has
been attached to the subfloor, the plug 47 is reinserted to create
a smooth upper surface of cushion and anchor sheet, or the plug can
simply be filled with cushion or any other suitable material.
[0030] FIG. 6 is a section taken along the line 6-6 in FIG. 2. It
shows corner pieces 51 which overlap areas of reduced thickness 53
on anchor sheets 55. The anchor sheet 55 can be free to ride
between two corner pieces 51, especially if there has been a
tolerance or space built in to the spacing between anchor sheets 55
and corner pieces 51 as described above. In this case, corner
pieces 51 would normally be attached to the underlying substrate
with a screw (not shown). It is also possible to attach the corner
pieces partially or wholly to the anchor sheets 55 through
attachment to areas of reduced thickness 53, in which case in some
instances it may not be necessary to attach any corner pieces 51 to
the substrate, instead letting anchor sheets 55 and corner pieces
51 float on the substrate.
[0031] Attachment of corner pieces at the corner reduces the number
of attachment points required, because each corner piece overlaps
four sheets at one corner. Because the corners of anchor sheets are
an area of weakness (as previously stated) there is less likely to
be discontinuities or breakage with this attachment system. In
addition, because fewer attachment points are required there is
less degradation to the integrity of the anchor sheet because there
are fewer holes in the anchor sheet. Finally, because the corner
pieces hold the anchor sheets down without necessarily attaching
them, to the underlying floor it is possible to allow for movement
of the anchor sheets in relation to the corner pieces, including
the handling of atmospheric expansion.
[0032] While corner pieces have been described, it is possible to
use the invention by providing a reduced thickness area along any
edge of a modular anchor sheet and having a cut away area within
the reduced thickness area to provide a structure for use of the
attachment devices described at that point. A reduced thickness
area surrounding a cut away area may also be located anywhere in
the interior of an anchor sheet for use of the attachment devices
at that interior point.
[0033] In embodiments where the anchor sheet modules are attached
to the floor only through the corner pieces, the anchor sheet
modules can easily be removed and replaced if they are defective or
require repair.
[0034] It is expected that the modules would likely be square, and
preferably in the range of four feet by four feet to two feet by
two feet, although modules outside of this range are also
functional and fall within the scope of this invention.
[0035] The anchor sheet modules could be made of an extruded or
molded material in which the two pieces are thermally bonded so as
to form an overlap and underlay. The sheets could be cut by a gauge
or jig. The anchor sheet modules could be die cut A layer of hooks
could be thermally bonded to the surface of the top sheet.
Alternatively, the complete mole (potentially including hooks, and
the two "layers" of the module) could be injection-molded using a
one- or two-step or multi-step process mold, using materials such
as polypropylene or polyethylene.
[0036] The overlap and underlay areas of the modules may be
provided with means for detachable or permanent attachment, or the
underlay areas may simply lie underneath and support the overlap
areas without any form of attachment. Alternatively, the modules
may also be made with corresponding registering bumps and
indentations (not shown) in the overlap and underlay portions of
the modules to assist in retaining the modules together and in
alignment during installation.
[0037] In all cases where hook and loop systems or hooks are
provided for, the hooks may be temporarily covered by a hard slip
covering as discussed in U.S. application Ser. No. 08/850,726 or a
soft covering as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,822,658 to
temporarily prevent premature engagement of the hooks to loops.
[0038] It is noted that those skilled in the art will appreciate
that various modifications of detail may be made from the
embodiments described herein which would come within the spirit and
scope of the invention as described in the following claims.
* * * * *