Stable flooring products and method of making same

Abstract

The present invention is directed to an article of manufacture suitable for flooring utilization which comprises a flooring panel adapted for interlocking connection with another correspondingly adapted flooring panel, such article having at least one edge with one or more elements formed such that they are operative to mate with one or more reciprocal elements associated with said other correspondingly adapted flooring panel, which article further comprises a frictional backing material that is non-adhesive in respect of, but exhibits resistance to movement with respect to, a surface underlying the article when in contact with the surface; and a method of making same.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An article of manufacture suitable for flooring utilization, which comprises a flooring panel adapted for interlocking connection with another correspondingly adapted flooring panel, said article having at least one edge with one or more elements formed such that they are operative to mate with one or more reciprocal elements associated with said other correspondingly adapted flooring panel, which article further comprises a frictional backing material that is non-adhesive in respect of, but exhibits resistance to movement with respect to, a surface underlying the article when in contact with the surface. 
     
     
         2 . An article of manufacture as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one edge of the article is provided with either a tongue or groove element operative to interlock with a reciprocal tongue or groove element on said other correspondingly adapted flooring panel. 
     
     
         3 . An article of manufacture as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the backing material has a coefficient of static friction of from 0.3 to 1.3. 
     
     
         4 . An article of manufacture as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the backing material has a coefficient of static friction of from 0.5 to 1.3. 
     
     
         5 . An article of manufacture as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the backing material has a coefficient of kinetic friction of from 0.2 to 1.2. 
     
     
         6 . An article of manufacture as defined in  claim 5 , wherein the backing material has a coefficient of kinetic friction of from 0.3 to 1.1. 
     
     
         7 . An article of manufacture as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the frictional backing material includes one or more polymeric substances. 
     
     
         8 . An article of manufacture as defined in  claim 7 , wherein each of the polymeric substances is selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene, polypropylene, polyurethane, epoxy, acrylic, latex, modified or encapsulated rubber, and neoprene. 
     
     
         9 . A method of making an article of manufacture suitable for flooring utilization, said article including a flooring panel adapted for interlocking connection with another correspondingly adapted flooring panel, by reason of said article's having at least one edge with one or more elements formed such that they are operative to mate with one or more reciprocal elements associated with said other correspondingly adapted flooring panel, which method comprises locating a frictional backing material on the flooring panel, said material being non-adhesive in respect of, but resistant to movement with respect to, a surface underlying the article when in contact with the surface. 
     
     
         10 . A method as defined in  claim 9 , wherein the backing material has a coefficient of static friction of from 0.3 to 1.3. 
     
     
         11 . A method as defined in  claim 10 , wherein the backing material has a coefficient of static friction of from 0.5 to 1.3. 
     
     
         12 . A method as defined in  claim 9 , wherein the backing material has a coefficient of kinetic friction of from 0.2 to 1.2. 
     
     
         13 . A method as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the backing material has a coefficient of kinetic friction of from 0.3 to 1.1. 
     
     
         14 . A method as defined in  claim 9 , wherein said at least one edge of the article said at least one edge of the article is provided with either a tongue or groove element operative to interlock with a reciprocal tongue or groove element on said other correspondingly adapted flooring panel. 
     
     
         15 . A method as defined in  claim 9 , which comprises locating the frictional backing material on the flooring panel via affixing the material to the panel by means of applying an effective amount of heat and pressure to the material and panel, affixing the material to the panel with adhesive, or affixing the material to the panel by curing the material while it is on the panel. 
     
     
         16 . A method as defined in  claim 9 , wherein the frictional backing material includes one or more polymeric substances. 
     
     
         17 . A method as defined in  claim 16 , wherein each of the polymeric substances is selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene, polypropylene, polyurethane, epoxy, acrylic, latex, modified or encapsulated rubber, and neoprene.