Flooring system and method of installing same

Abstract

A flooring system is provided with a combination of features which work with the expansion/contraction naturally occurring when wood is subjected to moisture variations. Part of the process is taken within the plank ( 52 ), which is the internal or intra-plank compensation system ( 82 ) and another part is taken by interacting between the planks ( 52 ) which is the inter-plank compensation system ( 50, 60 ).

1 . A flooring system comprising a number of flooring members installed next to each other in a coplanar relationship so as to define an open top inter-member gap between each adjacent pairs of flooring members, and a compressible/extensible sealing filler in said open top inter-member gap, said sealing filler being visible and accessible from above.  
   
   
       2 . A flooring system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein a stopper is provided in said open-top inter-member gap below said sealing filler to prevent excessive compression thereof as a result of an expansion of said flooring members.  
   
   
       3 . A flooring system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said flooring members have respective top surfaces defining a floor surface, and wherein said sealing filler and said open top inter-member gap cooperate together to define a concavity so that dust and sand on said floor surface can be pushed in said concavity to prevent scratching of said floor surface.  
   
   
       4 . A flooring system as defined in  claim 2 , wherein longitudinal grooves are defined in the opposed facing sides of said pairs of adjacent flooring members, and wherein a T-shaped spline is engaged with said longitudinal grooves to bridge each pair of adjacent flooring members, said T-shaped spline having a stem extending vertically in said open top inter-member gap, said stem acting as said stopper to limit the expansion of said flooring members into said open top inter-member gap.  
   
   
       5 . A flooring system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said filler stretch or compress to at least 50% of its size.  
   
   
       6 . A flooring system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein a stopper prevents closing of the open top end of the inter-member groove as a result of an expansion of said flooring members.  
   
   
       7 . A flooring system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein at least some of said flooring members are provided with internal expansion/contraction accommodation means to provide for local absorption of floor expansion and contraction movements and prevent chain transmission of stresses from one plank to another, said internal expansion/contraction accommodation means comprising at least one top groove defined in a top surface of said flooring members.  
   
   
       8 . A flooring system as defined in  claim 7 , wherein said top groove extends all along the length of the platform and mimics an inter-plank joint between two side-by-side planks.  
   
   
       9 . A flooring system as defined in  claim 7 , wherein said top groove is also filled with said sealing filler.  
   
   
       10 . A flooring system as defined in  claim 7 , wherein said internal expansion/contraction accommodation means further include at least one bottom groove defined in a bottom surface of said at least some of said flooring members.  
   
   
       11 . A flooring system as defined in  claim 10 , wherein said at least one bottom groove is laterally offset from said top groove of a same flooring member, and wherein said top and bottom grooves vertically overlaps each others.  
   
   
       12 . A flooring system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein a floating interlocking joint is provided between adjacent flooring members, said floating interlocking joint comprising a locking key extending from one side of a first flooring member and engageable with a complementary locking groove provided in an opposed facing side of a second flooring member, said locking key having a limited freedom of movement within said locking groove in a direction perpendicular to said opposed facing sides to accommodate expansion and contraction movements of said first and second flooring members.  
   
   
       13 . A flooring system as defined in  claim 12 , wherein said locking groove has a locking tab projection for locking engagement with said locking key, and wherein when said locking key is engaged behind said locking groove and abutted thereagainst, a play is defined between the locking key and an end wall of the locking groove.  
   
   
       14 . A flooring system comprising first and second flooring members adapted to be laid down side-by-side in a coplanar relationship, and a floating interlocking joint between said first and second flooring members, said floating interlocking joint comprising a compressible/stretchable filler provided in a gap between opposed facing sides of said first and second flooring members said filler being adhesively engaged with said opposed facing sides, and a locking key provided on a first one of said opposed facing sides and engageable with a complementary locking groove provided in a second one of said opposed facing sides, said locking key having a limited freedom of movement within said locking groove in a direction perpendicular to said opposed facing sides to accommodate expansion and contraction movements of said first and second flooring members.  
   
   
       15 . A flooring system as defined in  claim 14 , wherein said locking groove has a locking tab projection for locking engagement with said locking key, and wherein when said locking key is engaged behind said locking groove and abutted thereagainst, a play is defined between the locking key and an end wall of the locking groove.  
   
   
       16 . A floor plank adapted to be laid in a side-by-side coplanar relationship with similar floor planks to form a floor surface, said floor plank comprising an internal expansion/contraction accommodation means to provide for local absorption of floor expansion and contraction movements and prevent chain transmission of stresses from one plank to another, said internal expansion/contraction accommodation means comprising at least one top groove defined in an exposed top surface of said floor plank.  
   
   
       17 . A floor plank as defined in  claim 16 , wherein said top groove extends all along the length of the platform and mimics an inter-plank joint between two side-by-side planks.  
   
   
       18 . A floor plank as defined in  claim 16 , wherein compressible/extensible filler is provided in said top groove.  
   
   
       19 . A floor plank as defined in  claim 16 , wherein said internal expansion/contraction accommodation means further include a bottom groove defined in a bottom surface of said floor plank, said bottom groove being in substantially vertical alignment with said top groove.  
   
   
       20 . A floor plank(as defined in  claim 16 , wherein said internal expansion/contraction accommodation means further include a bottom groove defined in a bottom surface of said floor plank, said bottom groove being laterally offset from said top groove, and wherein said top and bottom grooves vertically overlaps each others.  
   
   
       21 . A floor plank as defined in  claim 16 , wherein said top groove extends generally longitudinally of said floor plank, and wherein said internal expansion/contraction accommodation means further include a transversally extending groove.  
   
   
       22 . A floor plank as defined in  claim 16 , wherein said internal expansion/contraction accommodation means further include a plurality of spaced-apart grooves having at least one of a different depth, width, shaped and orientation.  
   
   
       23 . A flooring member adapted to be laid in a side-by-side coplanar relationship with similar floor planks to form a substantially level surface, said flooring member having a bottom surface, a series of grooves defined in said bottom surface, and wherein at least one of said grooves is filled with a filling material having adhesive properties.  
   
   
       24 . A flooring member as defined in  claim 23 , wherein said grooves are arranged side-by-side, and wherein a central one of said groove is deeper than the other grooves.  
   
   
       25 . A flooring member as defined in  claim 23 , wherein said at least one groove in which the filling material is provided is deeper than the other grooves.  
   
   
       26 . A flooring member as defined in  claim 23 , wherein excess filling material is allowed to flow from said at least one groove to other adjacent grooves.  
   
   
       27 . A flooring system comprising first and second flooring members adapted to be laid down side-by-side in a coplanar relationship, and an interlocking joint between said first and second flooring members, said interlocking joint comprising a compressible/stretchable filler provided in a gap between opposed facing sides of said first and second flooring members, said filler being adhesively engaged with said opposed facing sides and retaining said first and second flooring members together in an assembled relationship, and a locking key provided on a first one of said opposed facing sides and engageable with a complementary locking groove provided in a second one of said opposed facing sides.