U.S. patent application number 14/949199 was filed with the patent office on 2016-03-17 for sound reducing tongue and groove member sound reducing fabrication process and sound reducing blend.
The applicant listed for this patent is ARMSTRONG WORLD INDUSTRIES, INC.. Invention is credited to TONY T. PASTRANA, KEITH THOMAS QUISENBERRY, SUNIL RAMACHANDRA.
Application Number | 20160076259 14/949199 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46755083 |
Filed Date | 2016-03-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160076259 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
RAMACHANDRA; SUNIL ; et
al. |
March 17, 2016 |
SOUND REDUCING TONGUE AND GROOVE MEMBER SOUND REDUCING FABRICATION
PROCESS AND SOUND REDUCING BLEND
Abstract
Described herein is a flooring member comprising: a panel body
and a sound-deadening composition applied to a vertical portion of
at least one of a first or a second profiled edge of the panel
body, the sound-deadening composition including: a first wax having
a melting point between about 53.degree. C. and about 56.degree. C.
and a second wax having a melting point between about 67.degree. C.
and about 71.degree. C.
Inventors: |
RAMACHANDRA; SUNIL;
(Lancaster, PA) ; QUISENBERRY; KEITH THOMAS;
(Thorndale, PA) ; PASTRANA; TONY T.;
(Millersville, PA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
ARMSTRONG WORLD INDUSTRIES, INC. |
Lancaster |
PA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
46755083 |
Appl. No.: |
14/949199 |
Filed: |
November 23, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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13191539 |
Jul 27, 2011 |
|
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14949199 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
52/588.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04F 15/02038 20130101;
C08L 91/06 20130101; C08L 97/02 20130101; C08L 2205/02 20130101;
C08L 91/06 20130101; C08L 97/02 20130101; E04F 15/02011 20130101;
C08L 91/06 20130101; C08L 91/06 20130101 |
International
Class: |
E04F 15/02 20060101
E04F015/02 |
Claims
1. A flooring member comprising: a panel body comprising: a lower
surface; an upper surface opposite the lower surface; a first
profiled edge extending between the upper and lower surfaces, the
first profiled edge comprising a tongue and at least one vertical
portion; a second profiled edge extending between the upper and
lower surfaces, the second profiled edge opposite the first
profiled edge, the second profiled edge comprising a groove and at
least one vertical portion; and a sound-deadening composition
applied to the vertical portion of at least one of the first or
second profiled edges, the sound-deadening composition comprising:
a first wax having a melting point between about 53.degree. C. and
about 56.degree. C.; and a second wax having a melting point
between about 67.degree. C. and about 71.degree. C.
2. The flooring member of claim 1 wherein the vertical portion of
each of the first and second profiled edges is substantially
perpendicular to the upper surface.
3. The flooring member of claim 2 wherein the vertical portion of
the first profiled edge is located between the tongue and the upper
surface and the vertical portion of the second profiled edge is
located between the groove and the upper surface.
4. The flooring member of claim 3 wherein the sound-deadening
composition is applied to both of the vertical portion of the first
profiled edge and the vertical portion of the second profiled
edge.
5. The flooring member of claim 1 wherein the vertical portion of
the first profiled edge is located between the tongue and the upper
surface and the vertical portion of the second profiled edge is
located between the groove and the upper surface.
6. The flooring member of claim 1, wherein the sound-deadening
composition is a solution, a mixture, a suspension, or a
combination thereof.
7. The flooring member of claim 1, wherein the sound-deadening
composition is solid at room temperature.
8. The flooring member of claim 1, wherein the first wax is present
in an amount ranging from about 50 wt. % to about 70 wt. % based on
the total weight of the sound-deadening composition.
9. The flooring member of claim 1, wherein the second wax is
present in an amount ranging from about 30 wt. % to about 50 wt. %
based on the total weight of the sound-deadening composition.
10. The flooring member of claim 1, wherein the first wax has a
needle penetration of between about 35 dmm and about 45 dmm at
25.degree. C.
11. The flooring member of claim 1, wherein the second wax has a
needle penetration of between about 10 dmm and about 20 dmm at
25.degree. C.
12. A flooring member comprising: a panel body comprising: a lower
surface; an upper surface opposite the lower surface; a first
profiled edge extending between the upper and lower surfaces, the
first profiled edge comprising a tongue and at least one vertical
portion; a second profiled edge extending between the upper and
lower surfaces, the second profiled edge opposite the first
profiled edge, the second profiled edge comprising a groove and at
least one vertical portion; and a sound-deadening composition
applied to the vertical portion of at least one of the first or
second profiled edges, the sound-deadening composition comprising:
a first wax having a melting point between about 82.degree. C. and
about 85.degree. C.; and a second wax having a melting point
between about 67.degree. C. and about 71.degree. C.
13. The flooring member of claim 12 wherein the vertical portion of
each of the first and second profiled edges is substantially
perpendicular to the upper surface.
14. The flooring member of claim 13 wherein the vertical portion of
the first profiled edge is located between the tongue and the upper
surface and the vertical portion of the second profiled edge is
located between the groove and the upper surface.
15. The flooring member of claim 14 wherein the sound-deadening
composition is applied to both of the vertical portion of the first
profiled edge and the vertical portion of the second profiled
edge.
16. The flooring member of claim 12 wherein the vertical portion of
the first profiled edge is located between the tongue and the upper
surface and the vertical portion of the second profiled edge is
located between the groove and the upper surface.
17. The flooring member of claim 16, wherein the first wax is at a
concentration, by weight, of about 50 percent and the second wax is
at a concentration, by weight, of about 50 percent.
18. The flooring member of claim 16, further comprising a contact
surface extending from the treatment region, the contact surface
being substantially devoid of the sound-reducing blend.
19. The flooring member of claim 16, wherein the first wax has a
needle penetration of about 2 dmm at 25.degree. C.
20. A flooring member comprising: a panel body comprising: a lower
surface; an upper surface opposite the lower surface; a first
profiled edge extending between the upper and lower surfaces, the
first profiled edge comprising a tongue and at least one vertical
portion; a second profiled edge extending between the upper and
lower surfaces, the second profiled edge opposite the first
profiled edge, the second profiled edge comprising a groove and at
least one vertical portion; and a sound-deadening composition
applied to the vertical portion of at least one of the first or
second profiled edges, the sound-deadening composition comprising:
a first wax having a first needle penetration of about 10 dmm; a
second wax having a second needle penetration of about 20 dmm.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 13/191,539 filed on Jul. 27, 2011. The
disclosure(s) of the above application(s) is (are) incorporated
herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to tongue and groove products,
blends for tongue and groove products, and processes of fabricating
tongue and groove products. More specifically, the present
invention relates to sound reduction of such products and
processes.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Tongue and groove products, such as tongue and groove
flooring, are used in various facilities where quick assembly is
desired and/or where lateral stability is desired. These products
include features for engaging individual members that form an
assembly of the products. The features can include male parts or
tongues and/or female parts or grooves. Tongue and groove products
engage each other along such features.
[0004] Known tongue and groove products suffer from a drawback that
they can be noisy when walked upon. When tongue and groove floors
are walked on, force is applied downward and/or in a lateral
direction. Such forces distribute in numerous directions due to the
mating features of the tongue and groove flooring. Such complex
mating features result in these forces generating noises. Such
noises are especially loud and frequent when installed at
inconsistent temperatures and/or at temperatures of less than
60.degree. F. Known products with waxes positioned on horizontal
surfaces in regions that generate noises have failed to reduce such
noises. To the contrary, known waxes have been positioned in
regions that generate noises and/or have compositions that fail to
reduce noises.
[0005] A tongue and groove member or assembly, a fabrication
process, and a blend that do not suffer from one or more of the
above drawbacks would be desirable in the art.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0006] The present invention is directed to a flooring member
comprising: a panel body comprising: a lower surface; an upper
surface opposite the lower surface; a first profiled edge extending
between the upper and lower surfaces, the first profiled edge
comprising a tongue and at least one vertical portion; a second
profiled edge extending between the upper and lower surfaces, the
second profiled edge opposite the first profiled edge, the second
profiled edge comprising a groove and at least one vertical
portion; and a sound-deadening composition applied to the vertical
portion of at least one of the first or second profiled edges, the
sound-deadening composition comprising: a first wax having a
melting point between about 53.degree. C. and about 56.degree. C.;
and a second wax having a melting point between about 67.degree. C.
and about 71.degree. C.
[0007] Other embodiments of the present invention are directed to a
flooring member comprising: a panel body comprising: a lower
surface; an upper surface opposite the lower surface; a first
profiled edge extending between the upper and lower surfaces, the
first profiled edge comprising a tongue and at least one vertical
portion; a second profiled edge extending between the upper and
lower surfaces, the second profiled edge opposite the first
profiled edge, the second profiled edge comprising a groove and at
least one vertical portion; and a sound-deadening composition
applied to the vertical portion of at least one of the first or
second profiled edges, the sound-deadening composition comprising:
a first wax having a melting point between about 82.degree. C. and
about 85.degree. C.; and a second wax having a melting point
between about 67.degree. C. and about 71.degree. C.
[0008] Other embodiments of the present invention are directed to a
flooring member comprising: a panel body comprising: a lower
surface; an upper surface opposite the lower surface; a first
profiled edge extending between the upper and lower surfaces, the
first profiled edge comprising a tongue and at least one vertical
portion; a second profiled edge extending between the upper and
lower surfaces, the second profiled edge opposite the first
profiled edge, the second profiled edge comprising a groove and at
least one vertical portion; and a sound-deadening composition
applied to the vertical portion of at least one of the first or
second profiled edges, the sound-deadening composition comprising:
a first wax having a first needle penetration of about 10 dmm; a
second wax having a second needle penetration of about 20 dmm.
[0009] Further areas of applicability of the present invention will
become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter.
It should be understood that the detailed description and specific
examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the
invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are
not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] The present invention will become more fully understood from
the detailed description and the accompanying drawings,
wherein:
[0011] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary tongue and groove flooring
member having an engagement protrusion according to the
disclosure.
[0012] FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary tongue and groove flooring
member having an engagement recess corresponding to the flooring
member of FIG. 1 according to the disclosure.
[0013] FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary tongue and groove flooring
member having an engagement protrusion and an engagement recess
according to the disclosure.
[0014] FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary tongue and groove flooring
member having an engagement protrusion and an engagement recess
corresponding to the flooring member of FIG. 3 according to the
disclosure.
[0015] FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary tongue and groove flooring
member having an engagement protrusion and an engagement recess
according to the disclosure.
[0016] FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary tongue and groove flooring
member having an engagement protrusion and an engagement recess
corresponding to the flooring member of FIG. 5 according to the
disclosure.
[0017] Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used
throughout the drawings to represent the same parts.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is
merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the
invention, its application, or uses.
[0019] As used throughout, ranges are used as shorthand for
describing each and every value that is within the range. Any value
within the range can be selected as the terminus of the range. In
addition, all references cited herein are hereby incorporated by
referenced in their entireties. In the event of a conflict in a
definition in the present disclosure and that of a cited reference,
the present disclosure controls.
[0020] Unless otherwise specified, all percentages and amounts
expressed herein and elsewhere in the specification should be
understood to refer to percentages by weight. The amounts given are
based on the active weight of the material.
[0021] Provided is a sound-reducing tongue and groove member or
assembly, a sound-reducing fabrication process, and a
sound-reducing blend. Embodiments of the present disclosure reduce
or eliminate noises generated from walking on a walking surface,
include a desirable hardness, include desirable lubricity, include
a desired lack of tackiness, include desirable wear resistance,
include desirable resistance to flaking, and combinations
thereof.
[0022] Referring to FIG. 1, a sound-reducing tongue and groove
member 100 includes a treatment region 102 extending from an outer
surface 104, such as a walking surface, a covered outer surface, an
uncovered outer surface, a finished outer surface, and/or an
unfinished outer surface of the member 100. Additionally or
alternatively, in one embodiment, the treatment region 102 extends
from a lower surface 105 of the member 100, is positioned on an
engagement protrusion 103, is positioned in an engagement recess
202 (see FIG. 2), or combinations thereof.
[0023] The member 100 further includes a sound-reducing blend 108
positioned on one or more locations 107 within the treatment region
102. The positioning of the sound-reducing blend 108 provides sound
mitigation, which may reduce or eliminate noise generated from
walking on the outer surface 104, which may reduce or eliminate
noise generated from expansion and contraction of the member 100,
which may reduce or eliminate noise generated from other forces
applied to the member 100, or combinations thereof.
[0024] In one embodiment, the sound mitigation reduces or
eliminates noise even when the member 100 is installed at
inconsistent temperatures and/or at a predetermined temperature or
temperature range, for example, at about 70.degree. F., at about
60.degree. F., at about 50.degree. F., between about 50.degree. F.
and about 70.degree. F., between about 50.degree. F. and about
60.degree. F., between about 60.degree. F. and about 70.degree. R,
less than about 70.degree. F., less than about 60.degree. F., less
than about 50.degree. F., less than about 40.degree. F., less than
about 35.degree. F., or any combination or sub-combination thereof.
In a further embodiment, the sound mitigation reduces or eliminates
noise even when the member 100 is used in conditions at a higher
temperature, for example, at about 60.degree. F., at about
70.degree. F., at about 80.degree. F., at about 90.degree. F., at
about 100.degree. F., between about 60.degree. F. and about
100.degree. F., between about 70.degree. F. and about 90.degree.
F., between about 70.degree. F. and about 80.degree. F., greater
than about 60.degree. F., greater than about 70.degree. F., greater
than about 80.degree. F., or any combination or sub-combination
thereof.
[0025] The member 100 is any suitable material, including, but not
limited to, wood, wood composite, vinyl, polymeric material, stone,
ceramics, metal, or a combination thereof. Suitable woods include,
but are not limited to, birch, poplar, oak, pine, maple, hardwoods,
softwoods, treated wood species, untreated wood species, and
combinations thereof. Suitable wood composites include, but are not
limited to, medium density fiberboard, high density fiberboard, low
density fiberboard, filled polymer composites, wood plastic
composites, veneers over different woods or over non-wood or
partially wood materials, and recycled or blended materials having
cellulosic components. Suitable vinyl compositions include, but are
not limited to, polyvinylchloride, luxury vinyl tile, vinyl
compositions of vinyl composition tile, and vinyl compositions of
vinyl asbestos tile. Suitable polymeric materials include, but are
not limited to, poly plastic asphalt tile. Suitable stone materials
include, but are not limited to, granite, marble, concrete, and
cement. Suitable ceramic materials include, but are not limited to,
fired-ceramics. Suitable metal materials include, but are not
limited to, steel, aluminum, iron, copper, alloys, and
superalloys.
[0026] The member 100 is any suitable product or portion of a
product that is subject to the generation of noise through forces
being applied to the outer surface 104 and/or through expansion and
contraction of the member 100. In one embodiment, the product is a
wood flooring assembly including a plurality of the members 100
engaged to each other. In general, suitable tongue and groove
products include, but are not limited to, flooring, sub-flooring,
structural floors, exposed floors, cabinets, drawers, ceilings,
walls, cubicles, walkways, pavers, roads, bridges, decks, patios,
homes, mobile homes, recreational vehicles, boats, airplanes,
automobiles, trims, molding, transitions trips, and trucks and
truck trailers. The member 100 is capable of being positioned
within the product, outside or on the exterior of the product,
and/or under other products and/or surfaces. The member 100 has a
predetermined thickness or thickness range, for example, between
about 0.25 inches and about 1 inch, between about 0.30 inches and
about 0.65 inches, between about 0.30 inches and about 0.50 inches,
between about 0.35 inches and about 0.40 inches, above about 0.1
inches, between about 0.1 inches and about 0.2 inches, between
about 0.1 inches and about 1 inch, or any combination or
sub-combination thereof.
[0027] In an embodiment where the member 100 is a composite, the
member 100 includes a substantially homogenous composition, such
that interior portions of the member 100 and exterior portions of
the member 100 include substantially the same composition. Exterior
portions are capable of including coatings, surface treatments, or
other suitable materials. In a further embodiment, the member 100
is devoid of embedded waxes and/or similar additives.
[0028] The member 100 includes a predetermined geometry permitting
engagement of a second member 100 that is identical in geometry to
the member 100 or corresponds in geometry to the member 100. For
example, referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, in one assembly, each of the
members 100 includes two contact surfaces 106 extending, for
example, in a substantially horizontal direction substantially
parallel to the outer surface 104. In one embodiment, one or more
of the contact surfaces 106 are devoid of the sound-reducing blend
108 and/or other waxes. The contact surfaces 106 extend from each
of the treatment regions 102 and form the engagement protrusion 103
(see FIG. 1), such as a tongue, or the engagement recess 202 (see
FIG. 2), such as a groove. Alternatively, only one of the contact
surfaces 106 extends from the treatment region(s) 102, three of the
contact surfaces 106 extend from the treatment region(s) 102, or
more than three of the contact surfaces 106 extend from the
treatment region(s) 102. In embodiments with more than four contact
surfaces 106, all four of the contact surfaces 106, fewer than four
of the contact surfaces 106, or more than four of the contact
surfaces 106, extend from the treatment region(s) 102.
[0029] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, in one assembly, each of the
members 100 includes two of the contact surfaces 106 extending, for
example, in the substantially horizontal direction substantially
parallel to the bottom surface 302. On each of the members 100, one
of the contact surfaces 106 extends from the treatment region 102
and forms the engagement protrusion 103 and one of the contact
surfaces 106 extends from the treatment region 102 and forms the
engagement recess 202.
[0030] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, in one embodiment, each of the
members 100 includes one of the contact surfaces 106 extending, for
example, in the substantially horizontal direction substantially
parallel to the outer surface 104. Referring to FIG. 5, in one
embodiment, the contact surface 106 is apart from the treatment
region 102 and is between the engagement recess 202 and the
engagement protrusion 103. Referring to FIG. 6, in one embodiment,
the contact surface 106 extends from the treatment region 102 and
forms a portion of the engagement protrusion 103.
[0031] According to an embodiment of the sound-reducing fabrication
process, the sound-reducing blend 108 is applied to the location(s)
107 within the treatment region 102 of the member 100. In further
embodiments, the treatment region 102 includes the sound-reducing
blend 108 and extends in or only in the substantially vertical
direction with respect to the outer surface 104 (see FIGS. 1, 2, 5,
and 6), extends at or only at an inclined direction with respect to
the outer surface 104 (see FIGS. 3 and 4), or extends in or only in
both the substantially vertical direction and the substantially
horizontal direction with respect to the outer surface 104 (see
FIGS. 5 and 6).
[0032] In general, although not intending to be bound by theory,
noise generated by the member 100 is believed to be caused by
vertical movement occurring between the members 100 forming the
assembly, such as a floor. The vertical movement is based upon
force applied from the outer surface 104, for example, by an
individual walking on the floor. The force from walking is in a
diagonal direction (in relation to gravity) and can be broken into
a force vector having a horizontal component and a vertical
component. The tongue-and-groove features permit slight movement
between the members 100 while maintaining a generally stable
assembly. The horizontal component of the force vector pushes and
pulls the members causing such slight movements. The vertical
component of the force vector causes the members 100 to
frictionally rub, thereby generating the noise. The sound-reducing
blend 108 lubricates and/or decreases the friction between the
members 100, thereby reducing or eliminating the generation of
noise.
[0033] The sound-reducing blend 108 provides sound mitigation when
applied. In one embodiment, the sound-reducing blend 108 includes a
soft wax (not shown) and a hard wax (not shown), for example,
homogenously mixed, in solution, in suspension, or combinations
thereof. For example, in one embodiment, the wax is a plant wax, an
animal wax, a synthetic wax, a derivative thereof, or a combination
thereof. In a further embodiment, the wax is an epicuticular wax, a
candelilla wax, a retamo wax, a sugarcane wax, a carnauba wax, an
ouricury wax, a hydrogenated and deodorized soybean oil or plant
oils, a lanolin wax, a beeswax, a lignite wax, a paraffin wax, a
polyethylene wax, a polypropylene wax, polytetrafluoroethylene wax,
a derivative thereof, or a combination thereof. In one embodiment,
the sound-reducing blend 108 includes hydrogenated soybean oil
and/or a hydrogenated metathesis dimer. In one embodiment, the
sound-reducing blend 108 is substantially devoid of or completely
devoid of oil. In one embodiment, the sound-reducing blend 108
includes a paraffin. In one embodiment, the sound-reducing blend
108 includes or is a biobased material. In one embodiment, the
sound-reducing blend 108 is solid at room temperature.
[0034] In one embodiment, the sound-reducing blend 108 includes, by
weight, between about 50%, about 70%, or 100% of a soft and oily
wax having a melting point of about 53.degree. C. to 56.degree. C.
and a needle penetration of about 35 to about 45 dmm at 25.degree.
C.
[0035] In one embodiment, the sound-reducing blend 108 includes, by
weight, between about 30%, about 50%, or 100% of a hard and
slick-to-touch wax having a melting point of about 67.degree. C. to
71.degree. C. and a needle penetration of about 10.0 to about 20.0
dmm at 25.degree. C.
Examples
[0036] A series of trials were conducted with various application
positions and compositions. The trials involved having an
individual walk on a surface of the member 100 in a consistent
manner. Evaluating individuals rated noises generated from the
member 100 to determine the intensity of the noise generated on a
scale of 1 to 4 (4 being the highest amount). The same individuals
were used for each trial and the ratings between the evaluators
were averaged. The individuals had been trained to ignore sounds
generated from the shoes or ambient sounds so that they could focus
on sound generated by the member 100.
[0037] In a control example, no treatment was applied to the member
100. In this control, the noise rating was about 1.5 when the outer
surface 104 of the member 100 was walked on.
[0038] In a first example, a treatment was applied to a
predetermined location. The treatment was a blend including, by
weight, about 50% of the soft and oily wax having a melting point
of about 53.degree. C. to 56.degree. C. and a needle penetration of
about 35 to about 45 dmm at 25.degree. C. and about 50% of the hard
and slick-to-touch wax having a melting point of about 67.degree.
C. to 71.degree. C. and a needle penetration of about 10.0 to about
20.0 dmm at 25.degree. C. in this example, the noise rating was
between about 1.0 and about 1.5 when the outer surface 104 of the
member 100 was walked on.
[0039] In a second example, a treatment was applied to the
predetermined location. The treatment was a blend including, by
weight, about 70% of the soft and oily wax having a melting point
of about 53.degree. C. to 56.degree. C. and a needle penetration of
about 35 to about 45 dmm at 25.degree. C. and about 30% of the hard
and slick-to-touch wax having a melting point of about 67.degree.
C. to 71.degree. C. and a needle penetration of about 10.0 to about
20.0 dmm at 25.degree. C. In this example, the noise rating was
about 1.0 when the outer surface 104 of the member 100 was walked
on.
[0040] In a third example, a treatment was applied to the
predetermined location. The treatment was a blend including, by
weight, about 50% of the hard and slick-to-touch wax having a
melting point of about 67.degree. C. to 71.degree. C. and a needle
penetration of about 10.0 to about 20.0 dmm at 25.degree. C. and
about 50% of a very hard and slick-to-touch wax having a melting
point of about 82.degree. C. to 85.degree. C. and a needle
penetration of about 2 dmm at 25.degree. C. In this example, the
noise rating was about 1.5 when the outer surface 104 of the member
100 was walked on.
[0041] In a fourth example, a treatment was applied to the
predetermined location. The treatment was the soft and oily wax
having a melting point of about 53.degree. C. to 56.degree. C. and
a needle penetration of about 35 to about 45 dmm at 25.degree. C.
In this example, the noise rating was about 1.0 when the outer
surface 104 of the member 100 was walked on.
[0042] In a fifth example, a treatment was applied to the
predetermined location. The treatment was the hard and
slick-to-touch wax having a melting point of about 67.degree. C. to
71.degree. C. and a needle penetration of about 10.0 to about 20.0
dmm at 25.degree. C. in this example, the noise rating was about
1.0 when the outer surface 104 of the member 100 was walked on.
[0043] In a sixth example, a treatment was applied to the
predetermined location. The treatment was the very hard and
slick-to-touch wax having a melting point of about 82.degree. C. to
85.degree. C. and a needle penetration of about 2 dmm at 25.degree.
C. In this example, the noise rating was about 2.0 when the outer
surface 104 of the member 100 was walked on.
[0044] In a seventh example, a treatment was applied to the
predetermined location. The treatment was a soft and sticky wax
having a melting point of about 74.degree. C. to 78.degree. C. and
a needle penetration of about 25 to about 35 dmm at 25.degree. C.
In this example, the noise rating was between about 1.5 and about
3.0 when the outer surface 104 of the member 100 was walked on.
[0045] In an eighth example, a treatment of the soft and sticky wax
having a melting point of about 74.degree. C. to 78.degree. C. and
a needle penetration of about 25 to about 35 dmm at 25.degree. C.
was applied to the contact surface 106 oriented in a horizontal
direction with respect to the outer surface 104 in the engagement
recess 202 (see FIGS. 3 and 4). In this example, the noise rating
was at about 3.0 when the outer surface 104 of the member 100 was
walked on.
[0046] In a ninth example, a treatment of the soft and sticky wax
having a melting point of about 74.degree. C. to 78.degree. C. and
a needle penetration of about 25 to about 35 dmm at 25.degree. C.
was applied to a location within the treatment region 102 oriented
in an inclined direction with respect to the outer surface 104 and
bordering the engagement recess 202 (see FIGS. 3 and 4). In this
example, the noise rating was at about 1.5 when the outer surface
104 of the member 100 was walked on.
[0047] While the invention has been described with reference to a
preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the
art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be
substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope
of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to
adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the
invention without departing from the essential scope thereof.
Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the
particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for
carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include
all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended
claims.
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