Surface covering panel, surface covering panel assembly and method of installing the same

Abstract

The present document relates to surface covering panel assembly for installation over a receiving surface and under a top layer. The surface covering panel assembly includes substantially identical surface covering panels. Each one of the surface covering panels includes a sheet member made of a first flexible material, the sheet member defining a first surface for interfacing with the top layer and a second surface, a padding layer panel made of a second flexible material, the padding layer panel defining a first surface for partially covering the second surface defined by the sheet member and a second surface for interfacing with the receiving surface, and an edge being adapted for releasable attachment to one of the at least other substantially identical surface covering panel.

1 . A surface covering panel for assembly with at least another substantially identical surface covering panel for forming a surface covering panel assembly for installation over a receiving surface and under a top layer, the surface covering panel comprising:
 a sheet member made of a first flexible material, the sheet member defining a first surface for interfacing with the top layer and a second surface;   a padding layer panel made of a second flexible material, the padding layer panel defining a first surface for partially covering the second surface defined by the sheet member and a second surface for interfacing with the receiving surface; and   an edge being adapted for releasable attachment to the at least another substantially identical surface covering panel.   
     
     
         2 . The surface covering panel of  claim 1 , wherein the second flexible material comprises at least one of: an expanded polypropylene, an extruded polypropylene, a foam, an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene, an extruded polytetrafluoroethylene, an expanded polyethylene, an extruded polyethylene, an ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM), a crumb rubber tire, a plastic, a natural rubber, a synthetic rubber, a polyurethane, a polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a shock absorbent material, a PVC mixed with a acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR) and ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA). 
     
     
         3 . The surface covering panel of  claim 1 , wherein the top layer comprises at least one of: a carpet-like top layer, a synthetic turf, PVC, PVC mixed with NBR rubber sheet, a geotextile fabric, a rubber-like top layer, a water-resistant top layer, a mat-like type top layer and a snow melt top layer. 
     
     
         4 . The surface covering panel of  claim 1 , wherein the edge comprises more than two edges for releasable attachment to more than two of the at least another substantially identical surface covering panel. 
     
     
         5 . The surface covering panel of  claim 1 , further comprising an extension member outwardly extending from the sheet member for releasably attaching with the at least another substantially identical surface covering panel. 
     
     
         6 . The surface covering panel of  claim 1 , wherein the top layer and the sheet member are one of: integral, glued together and bonded together. 
     
     
         7 . The surface covering panel of  claim 1 , wherein the edge comprises at least one of: a fastening material and a mating connector. 
     
     
         8 . The surface covering panel of  claim 7 , wherein the fastening material comprises at least one of: a hook and loop material, a Velcro™ hook material, a Velcro™ loop material, a Velcro™ mushroom-like shape material, nylon, polyester and polypropylene. 
     
     
         9 . The surface covering panel of  claim 1 , wherein the sheet member, the padding layer panel and the top layer are configured to be one of: rolled and unrolled between a rolled position and a surface covering position. 
     
     
         10 . A surface covering panel assembly for installation over a receiving surface and under a top layer, the surface covering panel assembly comprising:
 substantially identical surface covering panels, each one of the substantially identical surface covering panels comprising:   a sheet member made of a first flexible material, the sheet member defining a first surface for interfacing with the top layer and a second surface;   a padding layer panel made of a second flexible material, the padding layer panel defining a first surface for partially covering the second surface defined by the sheet member and a second surface for interfacing with the receiving surface; and   an edge being adapted for releasable attachment to at least another one of the substantially identical surface covering panels.   
     
     
         11 . The surface covering panel assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising joining padding layer panels, each one of the joining padding layer panels connecting the edge of one of the substantially identical surface covering panels with a corresponding edge of an adjacent surface covering panel. 
     
     
         12 . The surface covering panel assembly of  claim 11 , wherein a width, defined by each one of the joining padding layer panels, substantially corresponds to a sum of a first width defined by the edge of the one of the substantially identical surface covering panels and a second width defined by the corresponding edge of the adjacent surface covering panel. 
     
     
         13 . The surface covering panel assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the second flexible material and the joining padding layer panels comprise at least one of: an expanded polypropylene, an extruded polypropylene, a foam, an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene, an extruded polytetrafluoroethylene, an expanded polyethylene, an extruded polyethylene, an ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM), a crumb rubber tire, a plastic, a natural rubber, a synthetic rubber, a polyurethane, a polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a shock absorbent material, a PVC mixed with a acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR) and ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA). 
     
     
         14 . The surface covering panel assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the edge and one of: an upper side and an underside of the joining padding layer panels comprise at least one of: a fastening material and a mating connector. 
     
     
         15 . The surface covering panel assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the fastening material comprises at least one of: a hook and loop material, a Velcro™ hook material, a Velcro™ loop material, a Velcro™ mushroom-like shape material, nylon, polyester and polypropylene. 
     
     
         16 . The surface covering panel assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the one of: the upper side and the underside of the joining padding layer panels comprises a Velcro™ loop material and the edge comprises a Velcro™ hook material with a laminated textile material. 
     
     
         17 . The surface covering panel assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the top layer comprises at least one of: a carpet-like top layer, a synthetic turf, PVC, PVC mixed with NBR rubber sheet, a geotextile fabric, a rubber-like top layer, a water-resistant top layer, a mat-like type top layer and a snow melt top layer. 
     
     
         18 . The surface covering panel assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the edge comprises more than two edges for releasable attachment to more than two of the at least another one of the substantially identical surface covering panels. 
     
     
         19 . The surface covering panel assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the top layer and the sheet member are one of: integral, glued together and bonded together by heat. 
     
     
         20 . A surface covering panel assembly for installation over a receiving surface and under a top layer, the surface covering panel assembly comprising:
 substantially identical surface covering panels, each one of the substantially identical surface covering panels comprising:   a sheet member made of a first flexible material, the sheet member defining a first surface for interfacing with the top layer and a second surface;   a padding layer panel made of a second flexible material, the padding layer panel defining a first surface for partially covering the second surface defined by the sheet member and a second surface for interfacing with the receiving surface; and   an edge being adapted for releasable attachment to at least another one of the substantially identical surface covering panels; and   joining padding layer panels, each one of the joining padding layer panels connecting the edge of one of the substantially identical surface covering panels with a corresponding edge of an adjacent surface covering panel.