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 sidewall 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.

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 sidewalls; 
 a groove formed in said first sidewall, a first recessed portion formed in said first sidewall below said groove, said recess extending to said bottom wall;    a tongue formed on said second sidewall, said tongue being sized and shaped to fit within said groove formed in said first sidewall;    a second recess formed in said second sidewall, said second recess being located below said tongue and above said bottom wall, a substantially vertical abutting surface being located below said second recess; and    a plurality of connectors, each of said connectors being formed of a plastic material, each connector having a main body portion sized to fit within said first recessed portion formed in said first sidewall, a lip extending outwardly from said body portion, said lip being sized to engage said recess formed in said second sidewall, a substantially vertical abutting surface being located below and inwardly of said lip, said body portion having a thickness substantially greater than the thickness of said lip.    
   
   
       2 . The flooring system of  claim 1  wherein said connectors are formed of a polypropylene material.  
   
   
       3 . The flooring system of  claim 1  wherein said groove formed in said first sidewall has a generally V-shaped configuration, said groove being defined by an upper groove wall and a lower groove wall, each of said upper and lower groove walls each having an initial generally parallel portion adjacent said first sidewall, said parallel portion merging with respect of inwardly tapered portions to form said generally V-shaped configuration.  
   
   
       4 . The flooring system of  claim 1  wherein said main body portion of each of said connectors has an aperture formed therein.  
   
   
       5 . The flooring system of  claim 2  wherein said main body portion of said apertures is solid.  
   
   
       6 . The flooring system of  claim 1  wherein each of said lips of said connectors has at least one prong extending outwardly therefrom.  
   
   
       7 . A floor comprised of a plurality of elongated slats, each slat having a top wall, a bottom wall, and first and second opposed sidewalls, said slats being laid in a side by side relationship with a first sidewall of first slat abutting a second sidewall of a second slat, a groove formed in each of said first sidewalls, a first recessed portion formed in each of said bottom walls below said groove, said recess extending to said bottom wall; 
 a tongue formed on each of said second sidewalls, said tongue fitting within said groove of an adjacent slat;    a second recessed portion formed in each of said second sidewalls below said tongue portion, a substantially vertical abutting surface being located below said second recess; and    a plurality of connectors, each connector being formed of a plastic material 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 sidewalls, and said lip portion engaging said second recessed portion in said second sidewalls, a substantially vertical abutting surface being located below and inwardly of said lip, each of said connectors being secured to a substrate by a fastener extending through said body portion, said body portion having a thickness substantially greater than the thickness of said lip portion.    
   
   
       8 . The floor of  claim 7  wherein each of said connectors is secured to said substrate by means of a fastening member having a head, and at least one leg, said at least one leg extending through said body portion.  
   
   
       9 . The floor of  claim 8  wherein said first recessed portion formed in said sidewall comprises a continuous recess.  
   
   
       10 . The floor of  claim 8  wherein said continuous recess has a width of between 6 mm and 20 mm and a depth of between 3 mm and 5 mm.  
   
   
       11 . The floor of  claim 8  wherein said second recess extends inwardly a distance of between 15 mm and 5 mm.  
   
   
       12 . The floor of  claim 9  wherein said connectors are spaced apart a distance of between 10 cm and 15 cm.  
   
   
       13 . 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 sidewalls, a groove formed in each of said first sidewall, a first recessed portion formed in said first sidewall below said groove, said recess extending to said bottom wall, a tongue formed on said second sidewall, said tongue being sized and shaped to fit within said groove formed in said first sidewall, and a second recess formed in said second sidewall, said second recess being located below said tongue and above said bottom wall, a substantially vertical abutting surface being located below said second recess, the method comprising the steps of supplying a plurality of connectors, each of said connecters being formed of a plastic material having a main body portion sized to fit within said first recessed portion formed in said first sidewall, and having a lip extending outwardly from said body portion, placing a slat on a substrate, placing a connector against said second sidewall such that said lip engages said recess formed in said second sidewall, securing said body portion to said substrate, and continuing to place subsequent slats in a side by side abutting relationship with a connector retaining each slat in position.