Flooring product with grouting barrier

Abstract

A flooring product is provided with a removable protective grouting film. In one embodiment, the flooring product may be a synthetic polymeric laminated tile. The protective grouting film is releasably adhered to a top surface of the tile and may have a flexible structure. In one arrangement, the protective grouting film is configured to form a protective barrier covering peripheral portions of the tile and leaving an exposed open central portion. The protective grouting film helps prevent grout from contacting the tile making subsequent cleanup easier and quicker. In one embodiment, the tile may be a resilient type synthetic flooring product formed of polyvinyl chloride such as luxury vinyl tile.

1 . A flooring product comprising:
 a substrate;   a polymeric wear layer bonded on top of the substrate;   the substrate and wear layer collectively forming a flooring product having a plurality of lateral edges and peripheral top surfaces lying adjacent the lateral edges and extending around a perimeter of the substrate; and   a conformal protective grouting film releasably adhered on the peripheral top surfaces of the flooring product, the protective grouting film having a flexible structure and being removable from the peripheral top surfaces by peeling.   
     
     
         2 . The flooring product of  claim 1 , wherein the protective grouting film has an open frame shape defining an open central area in which a top major surface of the flooring product is exposed. 
     
     
         3 . The flooring product of  claim 2 , wherein the protective grouting film forms a single contiguous structure extending around the perimeter of the flooring product on the top major surface. 
     
     
         4 . The flooring product of  claim 3 , wherein, the protective grouting film is peelable from the flooring product as a single intact unit. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The flooring product of  claim 1 , further comprising a printed patterned layer bonded between the substrate and wear layer. 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The flooring product of  claim 1 , wherein the protective grouting film is adhesive free. 
     
     
         10 . The flooring product of  claim 1 , wherein the protective grouting film comprises polyester or a removable spray booth protective coating material. 
     
     
         11 . The flooring product of  claim 1 , further comprising a lifting tab for removing the protective grouting film from the flooring product. 
     
     
         12 . The flooring product of  claim 1 , wherein the protective grouting film is applied to the flooring product during fabrication of the flooring product in a factory. 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . File flooring product of claim wherein the protective grouting film conforms to the topography of the substrate. 
     
     
         17 . The flooring product of  claim 1 , wherein the wear layer has an embossed surface. 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . The footing product of  claim 1 , wherein the flooring product is laminated luxury vinyl tile. 
     
     
         21 . The flooring product of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate is comprised of a non-vinyl polymer. 
     
     
         22 . A synthetic flooring product comprising:
 a polymeric base layer;   a transparent polymeric wear layer bonded to substrate;   the polymeric base and wear layers collectively forming a synthetic flooring product having a top major surface and opposing bottom major surface, the top surface defining a plurality of lateral edges and peripheral top surfaces lying adjacent the lateral edges and extending around a perimeter of the substrate; and   a hydrophobic protective grouting film releasably adhered on the peripheral top surfaces of the flooring product, the protective grouting film haying a flexible conformal structure which conforms to contours of the peripheral top surface of the flooring product;   wherein the protective growing film is impervious to moisture from grout a d removable from the peripheral top surface by peeling and bending the   
     
     
         23 . The synthetic flooring product of  claim 22 , wherein the protective grouting film is formed of polymer. 
     
     
         24 . The synthetic flooring product of  claims 22 , wherein the wear layer has an embossed surface. 
     
     
         25 . The synthetic flooring product of  claim 22 , wherein the protective grouting film has an open frame shape defining an open central area in which a top major surface of the flooring product is exposed. 
     
     
         26 . The synthetic flooring product of  claim 22 , wherein the protective grouting film forms a single contiguous structure extending around the perimeter of the flooring product on the top major surface. 
     
     
         27 . The synthetic flooring product of  claim 22 , wherein, the protective grouting film is peelable from the flooring product as a single intact unit. 
     
     
         28 - 40 . (canceled)