Modular flooring system

Abstract

A modular wood flooring system comprising a plurality of multi-layer flooring sections, provided in pre-measured sectional units and adapted for rapid installation is disclosed. Each flooring section includes a resilient bottom layer, an intermediate sub-floor layer, and a top wood flooring layer. The ends of adjoining sections are staggered to avoid the appearance of a straight line seam. Each flooring section further includes a top edge portion adapted with a recessed latching mechanism to allow the sections to be mechanically connected. A first flooring section is adapted with a male latch member and a second flooring section is adapted with a female latch receiving member for receiving the male latch member of an adjoining first flooring section. The latching mechanism is recessed into an opening formed in the intermediate plywood sub-floor layer and configured so as to be generally flush therewith to permit the latch to be covered by a portion of wood flooring laterally projecting from an adjacent flooring section. The latching mechanism is manually configurable between latched and un-latched configurations without requiring tools.

1 . A modular flooring system comprising:
 a plurality of modular flooring sections, including first and second connectable flooring sections, each of said flooring sections having at least one end terminating in staggered configuration;   said first and second flooring sections each including a resilient layer, an intermediate rigid layer, and a top wood floor layer;   said intermediate rigid layer having a lateral edge portion projecting beyond the corresponding lateral edge of said top wood floor layer;   said lateral edge portion of said first flooring section including a male latch mechanism;   said lateral edge portion of said second flooring section including a female latch receiving mechanism;   said first and second flooring sections connectable in end to end relation and selectively secured by engagement of said male latch mechanism on said first flooring section with said female latch receiving mechanism on said second flooring section.   
   
   
       2 . A modular flooring system according to  claim 1 , wherein said lateral edge portion projecting beyond the corresponding lateral edge of said top wood floor layer further includes a raised tongue. 
   
   
       3 . A modular flooring system comprising:
 a plurality of modular flooring sections, including first and second connectable flooring sections, each of said flooring sections having opposing side edges and opposing ends with at least one end terminating in staggered configuration;   each flooring section including a resilient layer, an intermediate rigid layer, and a top wood floor layer, said an intermediate rigid layer having a projecting lateral side edge extending beyond the corresponding lateral side edge of said top wood floor layer and adapted with at least one latch mechanism and an upwardly projecting raised tongue, said top wood floor layer having a projecting opposing lateral side edge extending beyond the corresponding lateral side edge of said intermediate rigid layer, said projecting opposing lateral side edge having an undersurface defining a recessed groove;   said first and second flooring sections connectable in end-to-end relation and selectively secured by engagement of said at least one latch mechanism on said first flooring section with said at least one latch mechanism on said second flooring section.   
   
   
       4 . A modular flooring system according to  claim 3 , further including a third connectable flooring section having opposing side edges and opposing ends, said third flooring section disposed in adjacent side-by-side relation with said first flooring section such that said projecting lateral side edge of said third flooring section is disposed in overlapping relation with said projecting lateral side edge of said intermediate rigid layer of said first floor section such that the recessed groove defined on the undersurface thereof engages the tongue defined on said first flooring section so as to secure said third flooring section relative to said first flooring section. 
   
   
       5 . A modular flooring system according to  claim 3 , wherein said latch mechanism comprises a male latch member receivably disposed within a corresponding opening defined in said intermediate rigid layer of said first flooring section, and a female latch receiving member receivably disposed within a corresponding opening defined in said intermediate rigid layer of said second flooring section. 
   
   
       6 . A modular flooring system according to  claim 5 , wherein said male latch member is pivotally adjustable between an unlatched configuration to a latched configuration without the use of tools. 
   
   
       7 . A modular flooring system according to  claim 6 , wherein said male latch member comprises a latch secured in pivotal relation with said flooring section by a pivot pin inserted through a proximal end thereof, an intermediate body portion having first and second projecting anchors for engaging portions of said female latch receiving member in the latched configuration, and a distal end portion forming a resilient clip for retaining that functions to retain said latch in either latched or unlatched configurations.