Anchor sheet framework and subflooring

Abstract

An anchor sheet subfloor that includes a laminate having an upper layer of relatively thin flexible rigid sheet material and a bottom layer of a relatively resilient cushioning material. The upper sheet layer can be formed of a plastic or polymer material. In one arrangement, the sheet can be cut and fit within the boundaries of a room and the sheet has sufficient rigidity and mass to remain without distortion or buckling within the room by free floating on the existing floor without substantial attachment to the floor. It can be possible for a sheet to be cut and fit on site to fit the contours of a room to form by itself or in combination with other anchor sheets a free floating smooth subfloor on which can be overlaid decorative covering pieces.

I claim:  
     
         1 . An anchor sheet for locating a decorative covering on a rigid supporting substrate in which the decorative covering has a finished surface and an opposite surface substantially covered in loops, the anchor sheet comprising: 
 a thin rigid sheet being at least 10 mils thick and made from a polymer;    hooks substantially covering a side of the rigid sheet for detachable attachment to the looped surface of the decorative covering;    the rigid sheet having properties such that when combined with the covering, it has sufficient rigidity and mass to prevent the covering from buckling when the sheet is laid without attachment onto the supporting substrate intermediate the decorative covering and the supporting substrate.    
     
     
         2 . The anchor sheet of  claim 1 , wherein the thin rigid sheet is made from one of polycarbonate, polypropylene, polyethylene and polyester.  
     
     
         3 . The anchor sheet of  claim 2  in which the decorative covering is a carpet.  
     
     
         4 . The anchor sheet of  claim 1 , in which the anchor sheet further comprises a resilient layer attached to the rigid sheet on a side opposite to the hooks.  
     
     
         5 . An anchor sheet and decorative covering combination comprising: 
 at least two thin rigid sheets laid side by side, each being at least 10 mils thick and made from a polymer;    hooks substantially covering the same side of each rigid sheet for detachable attachment to a looped surface;    a decorative covering having a finished surface and an opposite surface substantially covered in loops, and being attached to at least one of the rigid sheets;    the combination having sufficient rigidity and mass to prevent the combination from buckling when the rigid sheets are laid onto the supporting substrate intermediate the decorative covering and the supporting substrate.    
     
     
         6 . The combination of  claim 5 , further comprising at least one more decorative covering, and the decorative coverings are arranged in patterns on the anchor sheets.  
     
     
         7 . The combination of  claim 6  in which the decorative covering is a carpet piece.  
     
     
         8 . The combination of  claim 7 , wherein the carpet pieces each have a surface area smaller than a surface area of one of the rigid sheets.  
     
     
         9 . The combination of  claim 8 , wherein at least two of the carpet pieces have different surface areas.  
     
     
         10 . The combination of  claim 9 , wherein at least two of the rigid sheets have different surface areas.  
     
     
         11 . The combination of  claim 7 , wherein the loops of the carpet pieces are attached to the hooks of at least two adjacent anchor sheets to tie the anchor sheets together.  
     
     
         12 . The combination of  claim 5 , wherein the rigid sheets abut one another.  
     
     
         13 . An anchor sheet and decorative covering combination comprising: 
 a thin rigid sheet being at least 10 mils thick and made from a polymer;    hooks substantially covering a side of the rigid sheet for detachable attachment to a looped surface;    at least two decorative coverings each having a finished surface and an opposite surface substantially covered in loops, the coverings being attached side by side to the rigid sheet;    the combination having, sufficient rigidity and mass to prevent the combination from buckling when the rigid sheet is laid onto the supporting substrate intermediate the decorative coverings and the supporting substrate.    
     
     
         14 . The combination of  claim 13  in which the decorative coverings are carpet pieces.  
     
     
         15 . The combination of  claim 14 , wherein the carpet pieces each have a surface area smaller than a surface area of one of the rigid sheets.  
     
     
         16 . The combination of  claim 14 , wherein at least two of the carpet pieces have different surface areas.  
     
     
         17 . The combination of  claim 14 , further comprising at least one more rigid sheet, wherein the loops of at least one carpet piece are attached to the hooks of at least two adjacent anchor sheets to tie the anchor sheets together.  
     
     
         18 . The combination of  claim 17 , wherein the rigid sheets abut one another.