Moisture-resistant floor tile covering system for concrete floors

Abstract

A thermally insulating tile floor covering system comprising a water resistant, inorganic, thermal air-gap plastic barrier tile layer which is provided with a network of integral spaced plastic studs, legs or wall sections on the underside thereof, to form an interconnected space network between the undersurface of the flat plastic tile and the surface of a concrete floor supporting the tile. The space network provides an insulating thermal air gap barrier space to receive and circulate any water vapor penetrating up through the concrete floor.

1 . A moisture-resistant floor tile covering for concrete floors comprising a plurality of strong, water-resistant plastic floor tiles which have a solid planar upper surface and can be abutted with each other to form a water-impervious floor covering over a concrete floor, said tiles having a network or gridwork of spaced raised water-resistant studs, legs or wall sections projecting from the undersurface of said tiles for contacting the surface of the concrete floor to provide a uniform thermal air gap space network between the undersurface of said tiles and the surface of said concrete floor in areas intermediate said plurality of spaced studs, legs or wall sections.  
   
   
       2 . An insulation floor tile covering according to  claim 1  in which said water-resistant floor tiles are molded with said studs, legs or wall sections integral therewith and provide said air gap space network therebetween.  
   
   
       3 . An insulation floor tile covering according to  claim 1  in which said water-resistant studs, legs or wall sections are integral to a sheet of molded, water-resistant plastic material which is assembled to a backing to form said water-resistant plastic floor tiles.  
   
   
       4 . An insulation floor tile covering according to  claim 1  in which said plastic floor tiles comprise complementary edge means for engaging each other when said tiles are abutted.  
   
   
       5 . An insulation floor tile covering according to  claim 4  in which said complementary engagement means comprise tongue and groove means.  
   
   
       6 . An insulation floor tile covering according to  claim 1  in which the plastic floor tiles are molded from acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene(ABS), polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, polypropylene or polycarbonate.  
   
   
       7 . An insulation floor tile according to  claim 1  having a thickness of {fraction (5/16)}″ to 1½″.  
   
   
       8 . An insulation floor tile covering according to  claim 1  in which said thermal air gap space provides a thermal break between the surface of the concrete floor and the upper surface of the tile.  
   
   
       9 . An insulation floor tile covering according to  claim 1  in which the plastic floor tiles are made from an insulation material which resists heat conduction.  
   
   
       10 . An insulation floor tile covering according to  claim 1  in which said air gap space network is interconnected and is vented to allow water vapor to escape therefrom at the edges of the floor.  
   
   
       11 . An insulation floor tile covering according to  claim 1  in which said air gap space is vented by means of a fan for exhausting water vapor therefrom to an exterior location.  
   
   
       12 . An insulation floor tile covering according to  claim 1  in which said air gap space is vented by means of a fan for blowing dry air therethrough to displace water vapor therefrom.  
   
   
       13 . An insulation floor tile covering according to  claim 1  in which the tiles have an upper surface having a decorative finish.  
   
   
       14 . An insulation floor tile covering according to  claim 1  in which the tiles have an upper surface having carpeting preattached thereto.  
   
   
       15 . An insulation floor tile covering according to  claim 1  in which the tiles have an upper surface having linoleum preattached thereto.  
   
   
       16 . An insulation floor tile covering according to  claim 2  in which the tiles have an upper surface having a decorative finish.  
   
   
       17 . An insulation floor tile covering according to  claim 2  in which the tiles have an upper surface having carpeting preattached thereto.  
   
   
       18 . An insulation floor tile covering according to  claim 2  in which the tiles have an upper surface having linoleum preattached thereto.