Floor panel for finished floors

Abstract

A floor panel having a structural core and a finished surface layer disposed on a top side of the structural core. A substantially water-impervious sheet having a plurality of projections for providing an air gap between the core and a concrete foundation is affixed to a bottom side of the structural core. The finished surface may be carpet, carpet underlayment, or a finished wood or wood-like surface. The floor panel minimizes the effort required to construct a sub-floor whilst dealing with moisture problems typically encountered in installing wooden sub-floors over a concrete foundation.

1 . A floor panel, comprising: 
 a structural core;    a finished surface layer disposed on a top side of the structural core; and    a substantially water-impervious sheet affixed to a bottom side of the structural core, the sheet having a plurality of projections for providing an air gap between the panel and a mounting surface.    
     
     
         2 . The panel according to  claim 1 , including means for interconnecting the panel to another said panel in abutting relationship.  
     
     
         3 . The panel according to  claim 2 , wherein the water-impervious sheet is constructed from semi-rigid polyethylene.  
     
     
         4 . The panel according to  claim 3 , wherein the projections are somewhat deformable under a load.  
     
     
         5 . The panel according to any of claim  1 - 4 , wherein the finished surface layer is carpet  
     
     
         6 . The panel according to any of claims  14  wherein the finished surface is a finished wood or wood-like surface.  
     
     
         7 . The panel according to any of claims  14 , wherein the structural core is an unfinished wooden board and finished wood or wood-like strips, planks or tiles affixed to the top side of the wooden board provide said finished surface.  
     
     
         8 . The panel according to any one of claims  14 , wherein the structural core is provided by finished wood or wood-like strips, planks or tiles, said strips, planks or tile also providing said finished surface.  
     
     
         9 . The panel according to claims  7  or  8 , wherein said strips, planks or tiles further include means for interconnecting to corresponding strips, planks or tiles located on another of said panels.  
     
     
         10 . A floor panel, comprising: 
 a wooden core;    a carpet underlayment layer affixed to a top side of the wooden core; and    a substantially water-impervious sheet affixed to a bottom side of the structural core, the sheet having a plurality of projections for providing an air gap between the panel and a mounting surface.    
     
     
         11 . The panel according to  claim 11 , further comprising a carpet attachment strip affixed to the top side thereof.  
     
     
         12 . A kit, comprising: 
 a plurality of floor panels, each floor panel having: 
 a wooden core;  
 a carpet underlayment layer affixed to a top side of the wooden core;  
 a substantially water-impervious sheet affixed to a bottom side of the structural core, the sheet having a plurality of projections for providing an air gap between the panel and a mounting surface; and  
 means for interconnecting means for interconnecting the panel to another said panel in abutting relationship; and  
   a carpet for disposition over the floor panels when interconnected.