Connecting System For Surface Coverings

Abstract

A plank is provided that has opposing first and second ends extending along a width of the plank, opposing first and second longitudinal sides extending along a length of the plank, and opposing top and bottom surfaces. The plank can have a tongue edge at the first end and a groove edge at the second end. The tongue edge can be detachably lockable into the groove edge of an adjacent, identical plank. Surface covering systems having a plurality of the planks connected together are also provided.

1 . A floor plank having a length and a width comprising:
 a top surface;   a bottom surface;   a first longitudinal side;   a second longitudinal side opposing the first longitudinal side;   a first end extending along the width of the floor plank and comprising a tongue edge, and;   a second end opposing the first end, extending along the width of the floor plank, and comprising a groove edge, wherein the tongue edge comprises:
 a vertical distal surface, substantially vertical to the top and bottom surfaces, 
 a top planar slanted surface extending away from the vertical distal surface toward the top surface, 
 a vertical lip extending downwardly from the top surface, 
 a channel disposed substantially between the top planar slanted surface and the top surface, the channel comprising a channel bottom and a channel back, the channel back extending away from the channel bottom toward the vertical lip, 
 a pinnacle rail connecting the top planar slanted surface and the channel, wherein the channel bottom extends vertically below the pinnacle rail, and the channel back extends laterally further away from the vertical distal surface than does the vertical lip, 
 a bottom planar slanted surface extending away from the vertical distal surface towards the bottom surface, and 
 a vertical shoulder extending from the bottom planar slanted surface to the bottom surface. 
   
     
     
         2 . The floor plank as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the vertical shoulder comprises an inclined top portion, the inclined top portion merging into the bottom planar slanted surface. 
     
     
         3 . The floor plank as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the channel bottom comprises a flat surface and the channel back comprises a curved surface. 
     
     
         4 . The floor plank as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the channel further comprises an angled surface that extends from the vertical lip to the channel back and forms an angle relative to the vertical lip that is between 40°-50°. 
     
     
         5 . The floor plank as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the pinnacle rail comprises a flat top surface that is parallel to the top surface of the plank. 
     
     
         6 . The floor plank as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the vertical distal surface has a height that is from about 40% to about 50% of the height of the plank. 
     
     
         7 . The floor plank as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the vertical shoulder is spaced further from the vertical distal surface than the vertical lip. 
     
     
         8 . The floor plank as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the groove comprises a profile that is substantially complementary to the shape of the tongue. 
     
     
         9 . The floor plank as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first longitudinal side comprises the tongue edge and the second longitudinal side comprises the groove edge. 
     
     
         10 . The floor plank as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first longitudinal side comprises a tongue profile that is different from the first end and the second longitudinal side comprises a groove profile that is different from the second end. 
     
     
         11 . A floor plank having a length and a width comprising:
 a top surface;   a bottom surface;   a first longitudinal side;   a second longitudinal side opposing the first longitudinal side;   a first end extending along the width of the floor plank and comprising a tongue edge, and;   a second end opposing the first end, extending along the width of the floor plank, and comprising a groove edge, wherein the groove edge comprises:
 a vertical distal surface, substantially vertical to the top and bottom surfaces, 
 a top planar slanted surface extending away from the vertical distal surface toward the top surface, 
 a vertical lip extending downwardly from the top surface, 
 a latch disposed substantially between the top planar slanted surface and the top surface, the latch comprising a latch bottom and a latch back, the latch back extending away from the latch bottom toward the vertical lip, 
 a slanted surface connecting the top planar slanted surface and the latch, wherein the latch bottom extends vertically below the slanted surface, and the vertical lip extends laterally further away from the vertical distal surface than does the latch back, 
 a bottom planar slanted surface extending away from the vertical distal surface towards the bottom surface, and 
 a vertical shoulder extending from the bottom planar slanted surface to the bottom surface. 
   
     
     
         12 . The floor plank as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the latch bottom comprises a flat surface and the latch back comprises a curved surface. 
     
     
         13 . The floor plank as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the latch further comprises an angled surface that extends from the vertical lip to the channel back and forms an angle relative to the vertical lip that is between 40°-50°. 
     
     
         14 . The floor plank as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the slanted surface comprises a flat top surface that is parallel to the top surface of the plank. 
     
     
         15 . The floor plank as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the vertical distal surface has a height that is from about 40% to about 50% of the height of the plank. 
     
     
         16 . The floor plank as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the vertical shoulder is spaced further from the vertical distal surface than the vertical lip. 
     
     
         17 . The floor plank as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the tongue comprises a profile that is substantially complementary to the shape of the groove. 
     
     
         18 . The floor plank as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the first longitudinal side comprises the tongue edge and the second longitudinal side comprises the groove edge. 
     
     
         19 . The floor plank as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the first longitudinal side comprises a tongue profile that is different from the first end and the second longitudinal side comprises a groove profile that is different from the second end. 
     
     
         20 . A flooring system comprising at least two floor planks that detachably interlock together, each of the planks comprising:
 a top surface;   a bottom surface;   a first longitudinal side;   a second longitudinal side opposing the first longitudinal side;   a first end extending along the width of the floor plank and comprising a tongue edge, and;   a second end opposing the first end, extending along the width of the floor plank, and comprising a groove edge, wherein the tongue edge comprises:
 a vertical distal surface, substantially vertical to the top and bottom surfaces, 
 a top planar slanted surface extending away from the vertical distal surface toward the top surface; 
 a vertical lip extending downwardly from the top surface, 
 a vertical shoulder extending from the bottom planar slanted surface to the bottom surface, 
 and the groove edge comprises:
 a vertical distal surface, substantially vertical to the top and bottom surfaces, 
 a top planar slanted surface extending away from the vertical distal surface toward the top surface; 
 a vertical lip extending downwardly from the top surface, and 
 a latch disposed substantially between the top planar slanted surface and the top surface, the latch comprising a latch bottom and a latch back, the latch back extending away from the latch bottom towards the vertical lip, 
 a slanted surface connecting the top planar slanted surface and the latch, wherein the latch bottom extends vertically below the slanted surface, and the vertical lip extends laterally further away from the vertical distal surface than does the latch back, 
 a bottom planar slanted surface extending away from the vertical distal surface towards the bottom surface, and 
 a vertical shoulder extending from the bottom planar slanted surface to the bottom surface, and 
 the tongue edge of a first of the at least two floor planks is detachably lockable into the groove edge of a second of the at least two floor planks such that the latch of the second plank is secured between the vertical lip and the pinnacle rail of the first plank. 
 
   
     
     
         21 . The flooring system as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the vertical shoulder comprises an inclined top portion, the inclined top portion merging into the bottom planar slanted surface. 
     
     
         22 . The floor plank as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the channel bottom comprises a flat surface and the channel back comprises a curved surface. 
     
     
         23  The floor plank as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the channel further comprises an angled surface that extends from the vertical lip to the channel back and forms an angle relative to the vertical lip that is between 40°-50°. 
     
     
         24 . The floor plank as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the pinnacle rail comprises a flat top surface that is parallel to the top surface of the plank. 
     
     
         25 . The floor plank as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the vertical distal surface has a height that is from about 40% to about 50% of the height of the plank. 
     
     
         26 . The floor plank of  claim 20 , wherein the vertical shoulder is spaced further from the vertical distal surface than the vertical lip. 
     
     
         27 . The floor plank as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the latch bottom comprises a flat surface and the latch back comprises a curved surface. 
     
     
         28 . The floor plank as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the latch further comprises an angled surface that extends from the vertical lip to the channel back and forms an angle relative to the vertical lip that is between 40°-50°. 
     
     
         29 . The floor plank as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the slanted surface comprises a flat top surface that is parallel to the top surface of the plank. 
     
     
         30 . The floor plank as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the vertical distal surface has a height that is from about 40% to about 50% of the height of the plank. 
     
     
         31 . The floor plank system as claimed in  claim 20 , firther comprising a first gap formed between the latch back of the second plank and the channel back and channel bottom of the first plank. 
     
     
         32 . The floor plank system as claimed in  claim 20 , further comprising a second gap formed between the top planar slanted surface of the first plank and the top planar slanted surface of the second plank. 
     
     
         33 . The floor plank system as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the gap thickness of the second gap is about 0.01 mm. 
     
     
         34 . The floor plank system as claimed in  claim 20 , further comprising a third gap formed between the vertical distal surface of the first plank and the vertical distal surface of the second plank. 
     
     
         35 . The floor plank system as claimed in  claim 20 , further comprising a fourth gap formed between the bottom planar slanted surface of the first plank and the bottom planar slanted surface of the second plank. 
     
     
         36 . The floor plank system as claimed in  claim 20 , further comprising a fifth gap formed between the vertical shoulder of the first plank and the vertical shoulder of the second plank.