Surface Covering Having An Acoustical Component

Abstract

A surface covering is provided and includes an upper section of laminated polymeric layers and an acoustical section for dissipating sound waves.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A surface covering, comprising
 an upper section of laminated polymeric layers; and   an acoustical section for dissipating sound waves, the acoustical section includes cork having a thickness of 5 mm or less that accounts for 30%-50% of a total thickness of the surface covering.   
     
     
         2 . The surface covering of  claim 1 , wherein the total thickness thereof is about 5 to about 9.1 mm. 
     
     
         3 . The surface covering of  claim 1 , wherein the upper section includes a wear layer, a backing layer, and a print layer positioned between the wear layer and the backing layer. 
     
     
         4 . The surface covering of  claim 3 , wherein the backing layer is secured to the acoustical section positioned on a bottom surface of the acoustical section. 
     
     
         5 . The surface covering of  claim 4 , wherein the wear layer has a thickness from about 0.1 to about 1.0 mm. 
     
     
         6 . The surface covering of  claim 4 , wherein the wear layer includes polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and a non-phthalate plasticizer being about 20 to about 30 parts per 100 parts of the polyvinyl chloride. 
     
     
         7 . The surface covering of  claim 6 , wherein the non-phthalate plasticizer is selected from a group consisting of dioctyl terephthalate (DOTP), 1,2-cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid diisononyl ester (DINCH), diethylene glycol dibenzoate (DE), dipropylene glycol dibenzoate (DPGDB) and bio-based plasticizer. 
     
     
         8 . The surface covering of  claim 6 , wherein the wear layer further includes a stabilizer being about 2.0 to about 5.0 parts per 100 parts of the polyvinyl chloride. 
     
     
         9 . The surface covering of  claim 8 , wherein the wear layer further includes a co-stabilizer being about 1.0 to about 5.0 parts per 100 parts of the polyvinyl chloride. 
     
     
         10 . The surface covering of  claim 9 , wherein the wear layer further includes a UV light stabilizer being about 0.1 to about 0.5 parts per 100 parts of the polyvinyl chloride. 
     
     
         11 . The surface covering of  claim 6 , wherein the backing layer has a thickness ranging from about 0.3 to about 2.5 mm. 
     
     
         12 . The surface covering of  claim 8 , wherein the backing layer includes a polymer composition selected from a group consisting of polyvinyl chloride, polyolefin, thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), or ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA). 
     
     
         13 . The surface covering of  claim 12 , wherein the backing layer further includes a filler being about 200 to about 300 parts per 100 parts of polymer composition. 
     
     
         14 . The surface covering of  claim 6 , wherein the backing layer includes an upper backing layer having a first polymer composition and a filler being about 200 to about 400 parts per 100 parts of the first polymer composition. 
     
     
         15 . The surface covering of  claim 14 , wherein the first polymer composition is selected from a group consisting of polyvinyl chloride, polyolefin, thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), or ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA). 
     
     
         16 . The surface covering of  claim 15 , wherein the backing layer includes a lower backing layer having a second polymer composition and a filler being about 100 to about 200 parts per 100 parts of the second polymer composition. 
     
     
         17 . The surface covering of  claim 16 , wherein the second polymer composition is selected from a group consisting of polyvinyl chloride, polyolefin, thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), or ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA). 
     
     
         18 . The surface covering of  claim 4 , wherein the acoustical section includes an acoustical layer secured to the backing layer using an adhesive layer. 
     
     
         19 . The surface covering of  claim 18 , wherein the adhesive layer includes a hot melt selected from a group consisting of a reactive moisture cured polyurethane glue or a hot melt ethylene vinyl acetate glue. 
     
     
         20 . The surface covering of  claim 1 , further comprising a coat layer disposed on the wear layer. 
     
     
         21 . The surface covering of  claim 20 , wherein the coat layer is an ultra-violet-cured urethane acrylate system. 
     
     
         22 . The surface covering of  claim 21 , wherein the coat layer has a thickness of about 1 mm.