Method for installing wood flooring

Abstract

There is provided a flooring system for hardwood floors comprised of a plurality of elongated slats wherein the slats are held in position by a plurality of connectors, each connector having a base secured to a substrate, a vertical portion extending upwardly from the base, and a generally horizontal portion extending into a groove formed in a side wall of the elongated slat. The system permits the slats to be installed with a minimum of labor and also permits removal of the slats and their later re-use.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A flooring system for installing a floor of individual boards, each board comprising an elongated slat having a top wall, a bottom wall, and first and second opposed side walls; 
 a groove formed in said first side wall, a first recessed portion formed in said first side wall below said groove and extending to said bottom wall;    a tongue formed on said second side wall, said tongue being sized and shaped to fit within said groove formed in said first side wall;    a second recess formed in said second side wall, said second recess being located below said tongue and above said bottom wall; and    a plurality of connectors, each connector having a main body portion sized to fit within said first recessed portion formed in said first side wall, and a lip extending outwardly from said body portion, said lip being sized to engage said recess formed in said second side wall.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said body portion of said connector has an aperture therein designed to receive a screw member.  
     
     
         3 . A floor comprised of a plurality of elongated slats, each slat having a top wall,; a bottom wall, and first and second opposed side walls, said slats being laid in a side by side relationship with a first side wall of first slat abutting a second side wall of a second slat, a groove formed in each of said first side walls, a first recessed portion formed in each of said bottom walls so each of said slats adjacent said first side wall; 
 a tongue formed on each of said second side walls, a second recessed portion formed in each of said second side walls below said tongue portion; and    a plurality of discrete connectors, each connector comprising a body portion and a lip extending from said body portion, said body portion fitting within said first recess below said groove in said first side walls, and said lip portion engaging said second recessed portion in said second side walls, each of said connectors being secured to a substrate.    
     
     
         4 . The floor of  claim 3  wherein each of said connectors is secured to said substrate by means of a screw extending through said body portion.  
     
     
         5 . The floor of  claim 4  wherein said first recessed portion formed in said side wall comprises a continuous recess.  
     
     
         6 . The floor of  claim 4  wherein said continuous recess has a width of between 6 mm and 50 mm and a depth of between 3 mm and 12 mm.  
     
     
         7 . The floor of  claim 4  wherein said second recess extends inwardly a distance of between 3 mm and 12 mm.  
     
     
         8 . The floor of  claim 5  wherein said connectors are spaced apart a distance of between 10 cm and 15 cm.  
     
     
         9 . A method of installing a wood floor comprising a plurality of elongated slats, each slat having a top wall, a bottom wall and first and second opposed side walls, a groove formed in each of said first side walls of each of said slats, a side wall recessed portion formed in one of said first and second side walls of each of said slats below said groove, a bottom recess formed in each of said bottom walls of each of said slats adjacent a respective second side wall, a method comprising the steps of supplying a plurality of connectors, a vertical portion extending upwardly from said base and a generally horizontal portion, a method comprising the steps of securing a connector to a substrate, placing a slat on said substrate with said horizontal portion extending into said groove formed in said first side wall to thereby secure said slat in position, and continuing to place subsequent slats in a side by side abutting relationship with a connector holding each slat in position.