Hidden edge for flooring finishing

Abstract

This application discloses a flooring edge finish that includes a flexible strip having an adhesive affixed to a top surface of the flexible strip and a hinge, wherein the hinge is a gap or an absence of the adhesive or a lower amount of the adhesive, on a portion of the top surface of the flexible strip, and wherein the flooring edge finish is upwardly foldable along the hinge to bind, protect, and conceal a flooring edge.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A flooring edge finish comprising a flexible strip comprising a hinge, wherein the flexible strip is upwardly foldable along the hinge and is capable of being bound to an edge of a flooring without concealing a top horizontal surface of the flooring; and
 wherein an adhesive is pre-applied to the flexible strip, or the adhesive can be applied to the flexible strip at a later time upon application of the flexible strip to the flooring.   
     
     
         22 . The flooring edge finish of  claim 21  wherein the flexible strip comprises more than one flexible strips. 
     
     
         23 . The flooring edge finish of  claim 21  wherein the flexible strip further comprises an additional peel and seal adhesive to aid in positioning the flexible strip in proper position before permanently adhering to the flooring. 
     
     
         24 . The flooring edge finish of  claim 21  wherein the flexible strip comprises a decorative material comprising a braid or a tassel. 
     
     
         25 . The flooring edge finish of  claim 21  wherein the flexible strip comprises a woven or non-woven composition comprising a natural fiber, a synthetic fiber, or a mixture thereof. 
     
     
         26 . The flooring edge finish of  claim 21  wherein the flexible strip comprises natural fibers; thermoplastics; rubber; polytetrafluoroethylene; or a mixture thereof. 
     
     
         27 . The flooring edge finish of  claim 21  wherein the flexible strip comprises a material comprising a paper, a fabric, a plastic, or a mixture thereof. 
     
     
         28 . The flooring edge finish of  claim 21  wherein the flexible strip comprises:
 (a) a first section located at one end of the flexible strip comprising an adhesive, wherein the adhesive lies along a surface of the flexible strip, which adhesive is attachable to a bottom surface of a flooring edge; 
 (b) a second section comprising the hinge, which is adjacent to the first section and applicable to and directly below the flooring edge; and 
 (c) a third section located at a second end of the flexible strip comprising an adhesive along a surface of the flexible strip, adjacent to the second section, which third section is attachable to a vertical surface of the flooring edge. 
 
     
     
         29 . The flooring edge finish of  claim 28  wherein a length of the hinge, or second section, and a length of the third section each comprise a length comparable to the length of the flexible strip. 
     
     
         30 . The flooring edge finish of  claim 21  wherein the hinge comprises multiple hinges or multiple gaps. 
     
     
         31 . The flooring edge finish of  claim 21  wherein the hinge comprises an about 20-170 degree bend in the flexible strip along a bottom section of the flooring edge after binding of the third section of the flexible strip to the flooring edge. 
     
     
         32 . The flooring edge finish of  claim 21  wherein the flexible strip comprises an additive comprising an antimicrobial compound. 
     
     
         33 . The flooring edge finish of  claim 21  wherein the hinge comprises an about 90 degree bend in the flexible strip along a bottom section of the flooring edge after binding of the third section of the flexible strip to the flooring edge. 
     
     
         34 . The flooring edge finish of  claim 21  wherein the adhesive comprises one or more layers comprising a hotmelt adhesive, a tape adhesive, or a mixture thereof. 
     
     
         35 . The flooring edge finish of  claim 21  wherein the adhesive of any of the sections of the flexible strip are the same or different than the adhesive of other sections. 
     
     
         36 . The flooring edge finish of  claim 21  wherein a thickness of the adhesive comprises about 0.1 to 1 inch. 
     
     
         38 . The flooring edge finish of  claim 21  wherein the flexible strip comprises one piece of material or multiple pieces of material attached together. 
     
     
         39 . The flooring edge finish of  claim 21  wherein the adhesive is pre-applied to the flexible strip. 
     
     
         40 . A flooring with a custom appearance comprising a hidden edge along a perimeter of the flooring,
 wherein the hidden edge comprises a flexible strip bound to a raw edge of the flooring; and   wherein the flexible strip is adhered to a bottom horizontal surface and a side vertical surface of the flooring without concealing a top horizontal surface of the flooring via a hinge in the flexible strip.