Flooring product

Abstract

A flooring system with at least a first and a second flooring panel is disclosed. The first flooring panel has a first top surface and a first engagement portion. The second flooring panel has a second top surface which is essentially parallel to the first top surface, and a second engagement portion. The first engagement portion can be an elongated tongue with a locking projection extending therefrom. The locking projection has a first inclined surface which is inclined at a first angle relative to the first top surface. The second engagement portion can be in the form of an elongated recess with a locking cavity extending therefrom. The locking cavity has a second inclined surface which is inclined at a second angle relative to the first top surface. The second angle is larger than the first angle. Whereby, as the first and second panels are moved into engagement, the first inclined surface cooperates with the second inclined surface to bias the first flooring panel relative to the second flooring panel such that the first top surface and the second top surface are positioned in the same plane.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A flooring system comprising: 
 a first flooring member having a first top surface and a first engagement portion;    a second flooring member having a second top surface which is essentially parallel to the first top surface, and a second engagement portion;    the first engagement portion defining an elongated tongue with a locking projection extending therefrom, the locking projection having a first inclined surface which is inclined at a first angle relative to the first top surface;    the second engagement portion defining an elongated recess with a locking cavity extending therefrom, the locking cavity having a second inclined surface which is inclined at a second angle relative to the first top surface, the second angle is larger than the first angle;    whereby the first inclined surface cooperates with the second inclined surface to position the first flooring member and the second flooring member such that the first top surface and the second top surface are positioned in the same plane.    
     
     
         2 . The flooring system as recited in  claim 1  wherein the elongated tongue extends from a first side surface of the first flooring member in a direction away from a second side surface of the first flooring member.  
     
     
         3 . The flooring system as recited in  claim 2  wherein the elongated tongue has a fixed end attached to the first side surface and a free end having accurate surfaces.  
     
     
         4 . The flooring system as recited in  claim 3  wherein the locking projection extends from a lower surface of the tongue which extends between the free end and the fixed end.  
     
     
         5 . The flooring system as recited in  claim 4  wherein the locking projection has a third inclined surface which extends from the first inclined surface to the lower surface of the elongated tongue and is inclined at a third angle relative to the first top surface.  
     
     
         6 . The flooring system as recited in  claim 5  wherein the elongated recess extends from a third side surface of the second flooring member in a direction toward a fourth side surface of the second flooring member.  
     
     
         7 . The flooring system as recited in  claim 6  wherein lead in portion is provided on the third side surface proximate the elongated recess.  
     
     
         8 . The flooring system as recited in  claim 6  wherein the elongated recess has an open end positioned proximate the third side surface and a closed end.  
     
     
         9 . The flooring system as recited in  claim 8  wherein the locking cavity is provided in a lower surface of the elongated recess which extends from the open end to the closed end.  
     
     
         10 . The flooring system as recited in  claim 9  wherein the locking cavity has a fourth inclined surface which extends from the second inclined surface to the lower surface of the elongated recess and is inclined at a fourth angle relative to the first top surface.  
     
     
         11 . The flooring system as recited in  claim 1  wherein the slope of the first inclined surface and the slope of the second inclined surface cause the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface to bias the first flooring member toward the second top surface.  
     
     
         12 . The flooring system as recited in  claim 11  wherein an upper surface of the tongue engages an upper surface of the recess when the first flooring member is biased toward the second top surface, whereby when the tongue upper surface is in engagement with the recess upper surface, the first top surface, and the second top surface will be provided in the same plane.  
     
     
         13 . A flooring system comprising: 
 a first flooring member having a first top surface and a second flooring member having a second top surface;    the first flooring member having an elongated tongue projecting from a first side surface, the tongue having a first thickness as measured between an upper tongue surface and a lower tongue surface, a locking projection is positioned on the lower tongue surface;    the second flooring member having an elongated recess projecting inward from a second surface, the recess having a second thickness as measured between an upper recess surface and a lower recess surface, the second thickness being greater than the first thickness, a locking cavity is positioned on the lower recess surface;    the locking projection and locking cavity engage to bias the first flooring member upward such that the upper tongue surface is in engagement with the upper recess surface;    whereby the dimensioning between the tongue upper surface and the first top surface and the dimensioning between the recess upper surface and the second top surface are precisely controlled to insure that the first top surface and second top surface are positioned in the same plane when the tongue upper surface is in engagement with the recess upper surface.    
     
     
         14 . The flooring system as recited in  claim 13  wherein the elongated tongue extends from a first side surface of the first flooring member in a direction away from a third side surface of the first flooring member.  
     
     
         15 . The flooring system as recited in  claim 14  wherein the elongated tongue has a fixed end attached to the first side surface and a free end having accurate surfaces.  
     
     
         16 . The flooring system as recited in  claim 15  wherein the locking projection extends from a lower surface of the tongue which extends between the free end and the fixed end.  
     
     
         17 . The flooring system as recited in  claim 16  wherein the locking projection has a first inclined surface which is inclined at a first angle relative to the first top surface, the locking cavity has a second inclined surface which is inclined at a second angle relative to the first top surface, the second angle is larger than the first angle, whereby the first inclined surface cooperates with the second inclined surface to position the first flooring member and the second flooring member such that the first top surface and the second top surface are positioned in the same plane.  
     
     
         18 . The flooring system as recited in  claim 17  wherein the locking projection has a third inclined surface which extends from the first inclined surface to the lower surface of the elongated tongue and is inclined at a third angle relative to the first top surface.  
     
     
         19 . The flooring system as recited in  claim 18  wherein the elongated recess extends from the second side surface of the second flooring member in a direction toward a fourth side surface of the second flooring member.  
     
     
         20 . The flooring system as recited in  claim 19  wherein lead in portion is provided on the second side surface proximate the elongated recess.  
     
     
         21 . The flooring system as recited in  claim 19  wherein the elongated recess has an open end positioned proximate the second side surface and a closed end.  
     
     
         22 . The flooring system as recited in  claim 21  wherein the locking cavity is provided in a lower surface of the elongated recess which extends from the open end to the closed end.  
     
     
         23 . The flooring system as recited in  claim 22  wherein the locking cavity has a fourth inclined surface which extends from the second inclined surface to the lower surface of the elongated recess and is inclined at a fourth angle relative to the first top surface.  
     
     
         24 . The flooring system as recited in  claim 17  wherein the slope of the first inclined surface and the slope of the second inclined surface cause the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface to bias the first flooring member toward the second top surface.  
     
     
         25 . The flooring system as recited in  claim 24  wherein an upper surface of the tongue engages an upper surface of the recess when the first flooring member is biased toward the second top surface, whereby when the tongue upper surface is in engagement with the recess upper surface, the first top surface, and the second top surface will be provided in the same plane.