Floor covering with replaceable floorboards

Abstract

A floor covering comprises at least first and second floorboards. Each floorboard respectively defines opposite longitudinal ends, an exposed outer surface and an opposite underside surface for engaging a subfloor, and comprises mating structures at each lateral side thereof. The first and second floorboards are configured to be adjacently assembled in a side-to-side arrangement with the mating structure of one of the lateral sides of the first floorboard vertically and removably mating with the mating structure of one of the lateral sides of the second floorboard. The floor covering includes at least one clip for being fastened to the subfloor and comprises mating structures at each lateral side thereof for vertically and removably receiving the respective mating structures first and second floorboards at each lateral side thereof.

1 . A floor covering comprising:
 at least a first floorboard defining opposite longitudinal ends, an exposed outer surface and an opposite underside surface for engaging a subfloor, the first floorboard comprising mating structures at each lateral side thereof; and   at least a second floorboard defining opposite longitudinal ends, an exposed outer surface and an opposite underside surface for engaging a subfloor, the second floorboard comprising mating structures at each lateral side thereof,   wherein the first and second floorboards are configured to be adjacently assembled in a side-to-side arrangement with the mating structure of one of the lateral sides of the first floorboard vertically and removably mating with the mating structure of one of the lateral sides of the second floorboard.   
     
     
         2 . A floor covering according to  claim 1 , wherein one of the first and second floorboards is fastened to the subfloor. 
     
     
         3 . A floor covering according to  claim 1 , wherein the mating structures of the first floorboard comprises a pair of lateral hook structures and a narrower section therebetween defining the underside surface for engaging the subfloor. 
     
     
         4 . A floor covering according to  claim 1 , wherein the narrower section comprises lateral side walls and the hook structures comprise respective wind elements respectively flanking each side wall, each wing element defining a respective underside and comprising a protrusion downwardly extending from the wing element underside so as to define a groove with narrower section side wall. 
     
     
         5 . A floor covering according to  claim 4 , wherein each wing element defines a shoulder portion extending laterally beyond the lateral position of the protrusion. 
     
     
         6 . A floor covering according to  claim 5 , wherein the protrusion comprises a free end surface and an outer wall opposite an inner wall interfacing and defining a notch. 
     
     
         7 . A floor covering according to  claim 3 , wherein each narrower section side wall defining a notch. 
     
     
         8 . A floor covering according to  claim 1  wherein the mating structures of the second floorboard comprises a pair of lateral hook structures and a narrower section therebetween defining the exposed outer surface. 
     
     
         9 . A floor covering according to  claim 8 , wherein the narrower section comprises lateral side walls and the hook structures comprise respective wing elements respectively flanking each side wall, each wing element defining a respective floor and comprising a protrusion upwardly extending from the wing element underside so as to define a groove with narrower section side wall. 
     
     
         10 . A floor covering according to  claim 9 , wherein each wing element defines a shoulder portion extending laterally beyond the lateral position of the protrusion. 
     
     
         11 . A floor covering according to  claim 10 , wherein the protrusion comprises a free end surface and an outer wall opposite an inner wall interfacing and defining a lip to be received by a notch. 
     
     
         12 . floor covering according to  claim 7 , wherein each narrower section side wall defining by a notch. 
     
     
         13 . A floor covering comprising:
 at least a first floorboard defining opposite longitudinal ends, an exposed outer surface and an opposite underside surface for engaging a subfloor, the first floorboard comprising mating structures therefrom at each lateral side thereof;   at least a second floorboard defining opposite longitudinal ends, an exposed outer surface and an opposite underside surface for engaging a subfloor, the second floorboard comprising mating structures at each lateral side thereof; and   at least one clip for being fastened to the subfloor and comprising mating structures at each lateral side thereof,   wherein the first and second floorboards are configured to be adjacently assembled in a side-to-side arrangement with the mating structure of one of the lateral sides of the first floorboard vertically and removably mating with the mating structure of one of the lateral sides of the clip and with the mating structure of one of the lateral sides of the second floorboard vertically and removably mating with the mating structure of another one of the lateral sides of the clip.   
     
     
         14 . A kit for making a a floor comprising the floor covering of  claim 1 , wherein the floor covering is disassembled. 
     
     
         15 . A kit for making a floor comprising the floor covering of  claim 1 , wherein the floor covering is disassembled. 
     
     
         16 - 19 . (canceled)