Edging Forms for Producing Self-Leveling Floors and Methods of Use

Abstract

An edging form for use in forming a self-leveling floor includes an elongated body having a top face, a bottom face, and a first side face that extends between the top face and the bottom face, the body being made of a polymeric foam. A plurality of spaced apart channels extend entirely through the body from the top face to the bottom face and pass through at least a portion of the first side face.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An edging form for use in forming a self-leveling floor, the edging form comprising:
 an elongated body having a top face, a bottom face and a first side face that extends between the top face and the bottom face, the body having a height extending between the top face and the bottom face in a range between 1 cm and 10 cm and a width in a range between 1 cm and 10 cm; and   a plurality of spaced apart channels extending entirely through the body from the top face to the bottom face.   
     
     
         2 . The edging form as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of channels also pass through a portion of the first side face. 
     
     
         3 . The edging form as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of channels comprise:
 a primary channel that extends entirely through the body from the top face to the bottom face and is spaced apart from the first side face; and   an access channel that extends from the first side face to the primary opening.   
     
     
         4 . The edging form as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the access channel comprises a slot that is narrower than the primary channel. 
     
     
         5 . The edging form as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the access channel intersects with the primary channel at an angle or corner. 
     
     
         6 . The edging form as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the body is comprised of a polymeric foam. 
     
     
         7 . The edging form as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the body further comprises a second side face opposite the first side face that extends between the top face and the bottom face. 
     
     
         8 . The edging form as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the top face comprises:
 a first lateral portion;   a second lateral portion spaced apart from the first lateral portion, the first lateral portion being at an elevation above the second lateral portion when the bottom face is horizontally disposed; and   a riser portion upwardly extending from the second lateral portion to the first lateral portion when the bottom face is horizontally disposed.   
     
     
         9 . The edging form as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the first lateral portion and the second lateral portion are in parallel alignment. 
     
     
         10 . The edging form as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of spaced apart channels extending entirely through the body from the second lateral portion to the bottom face. 
     
     
         11 . The edging form as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the body has a transverse cross section that is substantially L-shaped. 
     
     
         12 . The edging form as recited in  claim 7 , further comprising a backing secured along the second side face, the backing being more flexible than the base and being made of a different material than the base. 
     
     
         13 . The edging form as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising an adhesive applied to the bottom face of the body. 
     
     
         14 . An edging form for use in forming a self-leveling floor, the edging form comprising:
 an elongated body having a top face, a bottom face, and a first side face that extends between the top face and the bottom face, the body being comprised of polymeric foam; and   a plurality of spaced apart channels extending entirely through the body from the top face to the bottom face and passing through at least a portion of the first side face.   
     
     
         15 . An edging form for use in forming a self-leveling floor, the edging form comprising:
 a body having a top face, a bottom face, an exterior side face extending between the top face and the bottom face and an interior side face extending between the top face and the bottom face, the interior side face at least partially encircling an opening extending through the body from the top face to the bottom face; and   a plurality of spaced apart channels extending entirely through the body from the top face to the bottom face and passing through at least a portion of the exterior side face.   
     
     
         16 . The edging form as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the body comprises a circular ring and the opening extending through the body being circular and having an inner diameter in a range between 8 cm and 30 cm. 
     
     
         17 . The edging form as recited in  claim 15 , further comprising a slot extending through the body from the interior side face to the exterior side face. 
     
     
         18 . The edging form as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the body is comprised of a polymeric foam. 
     
     
         19 . The edging form as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the body has a transverse cross section that is substantially L-shaped. 
     
     
         20 . A method for forming a self-leveling floor comprising:
 securing an edging form to a subfloor so as to at least partially bound an area on which a self-leveling floor is to be formed, the edging form comprising:
 a body having a top face, a bottom face and a first side face that extends between the top face and the bottom face; and 
 a plurality of spaced apart channels extending entirely through the body from the top face to the bottom face; 
   dispensing a self-leveling flooring material onto the area in which the self-leveling floor is to be formed so that the self-leveling flooring material flows against the first side face or a portion of the top face of the edging form; and   allowing the self-leveling flooring material to harden into a solid floor while the self-leveling flooring material is disposed against the first side face or the portion of the top face of the edging form.   
     
     
         21 . The method as recited in  claim 20 , wherein the step of securing comprises applying an adhesive to the bottom face of the body of the edging form. 
     
     
         22 . The method as recited in  claim 20 , wherein each of the plurality of channels also pass through at least a portion of the first side face, wherein the step of dispensing comprises the self-leveling flooring material flowing into the plurality of channels. 
     
     
         23 . The method as recited in  claim 20 , further comprising removing a portion of the edging form projecting above the solid floor so that a remaining portion of the edging form has a top face that is flush with a top face of the solid floor. 
     
     
         24 . The method as recited in  claim 23 , further comprising applying a flooring covering over the top face of the solid floor and over the top face of the remaining portion of the edging form. 
     
     
         25 . The method as recited in  claim 20 , wherein the body is comprised of a polymeric foam. 
     
     
         26 . The method as recited in  claim 20 , wherein the top face comprises:
 a first lateral portion;   a second lateral portion spaced apart from the first lateral portion, the first lateral portion being at an elevation above the second lateral portion when the bottom face is horizontally disposed; and   a riser portion upwardly extending from the second lateral portion to the first lateral portion when the bottom face is horizontally disposed.   
     
     
         27 . The method as recited in  claim 26 , wherein the self-leveling flooring material is dispensed onto the area in which the self-leveling floor is to be formed so that the self-leveling flooring material flows over the second lateral portion of the top face and against the riser portion of the top face.