Laminate film-foam flooring composition

Abstract

A laminate composition of a thin film of low density polyethylene adhered to a sheet of low density polyethylene foam by means of a very thin layer of low density polyethylene. The polyethylene foam has a low density which is preferably between about 1.9 pcf and about 2.2 pcf. The bottom polyethylene film serves as a vapor barrier. One side of the polyethylene film extends beyond one edge of the polyethylene foam sheet. The laminate composition is installed in a free floating manner on the concrete subflooring, with the polyethylene film or the polyethylene foam sheet contacting the surface of the concrete subflooring. The laminate composition is usually in long strips, so when it is installed one edge of one strip overlies the extended portion of the polyethylene film of an adjacent strip. Then the laminate wood finish flooring, in plank form, is installed on top of the laminate composition in a free floating manner. The laminate wood planks fit together in a tongue-in-groove manner and are glued together.

1. A combination laminate film-foam composition for use under underlayment and free- floating  laminate wood floors floor, said underlayment adjacent to said free- floating laminate wood floor and  consisting essentially of a laminate of a sheet of polyethylene closed cell foam having a thickness between about 0.03-0.1 inches and a density of about 1-5 pcf and a film of polyethylene having a thickness of about 1-5 mils adhered to said foam sheet, said polyethylene film sheet having a larger surface area than said polyethylene foam sheet, at least one edge of the polyethylene film sheet extending beyond the corresponding edge of the polyethylene foam sheet, wherein said at least one edge of polyethylene film sheet having a length such that it is capable of overlapping an adjacent foam sheet. 
     
     
       2. The combination laminate composition underlayment and free- floating laminate wood floor  of  claim 1  wherein the polyethylene film is composed of low density polyethylene, the polyethylene foam sheet is composed of low density polyethylene, and the polyethylene film and the polyethylene foam sheet are adhered together by a layer of low density polyethylene. 
     
     
       3. The combination laminate composition underlayment and free- floating laminate wood floor  of claim  2   1  wherein the polyethylene foam sheet has a density of about 1.9 pcf to about 2.2 pcf. 
     
     
       4. The combination laminate composition underlayment and free- floating laminate wood floor  of  claim 1  wherein the polyethylene film is composed of low density polyethylene. 
     
     
       5. The combination laminate composition underlayment and free- floating laminate wood floor  of  claim 1  wherein the polyethylene film has a thickness of about 5 mils. 
     
     
       6. The combination laminate composition underlayment and free- floating laminate wood floor  of  claim 1  wherein the polyethylene foam sheet is composed of low density polyethylene. 
     
     
       7. The combination laminate composition underlayment and free- floating laminate wood floor  of  claim 6  wherein the polyethylene foam sheet has a density of about 1.9 pcf to about 2.2 pcf. 
     
     
       8. The combination laminate composition underlayment and free- floating laminate wood floor  of  claim 7  wherein the polyethylene foam sheet has a thickness of about 0.075 inch. 
     
     
       9. A combination laminate film- foam composition underlayment and a free - floating laminate wood floor, said underlayment adjacent to said free - floating laminate wood floor and consisting essentially of a laminate of a sheet of polyethylenic resin closed cell foam limiting flexing of said laminate wood floors by having a thickness between about  0 . 03 - 0 . 1  inches and a density of about  1 - 5  pcf and a film sheet of polyethylenic resin having a thickness of about  1 - 5  mils, adhered to said foam sheet, said polyethylenic resin film sheet providing a vapor barrier and having a larger surface area than said polyethylenic resin foam sheet, at least one edge of the polyethylenic resin film sheet extending beyond the corresponding edge of the polyethylenic resin foam sheet, wherein said at least one edge of polyethylenic resin film sheet having a length such that it is capable of overlapping an adjacent film sheet.    
     
     
       10. A combination laminate film- foam composition underlayment and free - floating laminate wood floor of    claim 9    wherein said polyethylenic resin is polyethylene.    
     
     
       11. A combination laminate film- foam composition underlayment and free - floating laminate wood floor of    claim 10    wherein said polyethylenic resin is low density polyethylene.    
     
     
       12. A combination laminate film- foam composition underlayment and free - floating laminate wood floor of    claim 9    wherein said polyethylenic resin is cross - linked polyethylene.    
     
     
       13. A combination laminate film- foam composition underlayment and free - floating laminate wood floor of    claim 9    wherein said polyethylenic resin is a copolymer of ethylene and other ethylenically - unsaturated monomers having from  3  to about  8  carbon atoms.    
     
     
       14. A combination laminate film- foam composition underlayment and free - floating laminate wood floor of    claim 13    wherein said ethylenically - unsaturated monomers are selected from at least one of the group consisting of propylene, butenes, pentenes, and hexenes.    
     
     
       15. A combination laminate film- foam composition underlayment and free - floating laminate wood floor of    claim 13    wherein said ethylenically - unsaturated monomers are selected from at least one of the group consisting of vinyl acetate, vinyl chloride, acrylic acid and its esters, and methacrylic acid and its esters.    
     
     
       16. A combination laminate film- foam composition underlayment and free - floating laminate wood floor of    claim 9    wherein said polyethylenic resin is blended with other polymers.    
     
     
       17. A combination laminate film- foam composition underlayment and free - floating laminate wood floor of    claim 16    wherein said polymers are selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polybutadiene, polyisoprene, polychloroprene, chlorinated polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, styrenebutadiene copolymer, vinyl acetate/ethylene copolymer, acrylonitrile/butadiene copolymer, and vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer.    
     
     
       18. A combination laminate film- foam composition underlayment and a free - floating laminate wood floor, said underlayment adjacent to said free - floating laminate wood floor and consisting essentially of a laminate of a closed cell foam sheet of homopolymers and/or copolymers of polypropylene limiting flexing of said laminate wood floors by having a thickness between about  0 . 03 - 0 . 1  inches and a density of about  1 - 5  pcf and a film sheet of homopolymers and/or copolymers of polypropylene having a thickness of about  1 - 5  mils, adhered to said foam sheet, said film sheet of homopolymers and/or copolymers of polypropylene providing a vapor barrier and having a larger surface area than said foam sheet of homopolymers and/or copolymers of polypropylene, at least one edge of the film of homopolymers and/or copolymers of polypropylene extending beyond the corresponding edge of the foam sheet of homopolymers and/or copolymers of polypropylene wherein said at least one edge of film sheet of the homopolymers and/or copolymers of polypropylene having a length such that it is capable of overlapping an adjacent film sheet.    
     
     
       19. A combination laminate film- foam composition underlayment and free - floating laminate wood floor of    claim 18    wherein said homopolymers and/or copolymers of polypropylene is a homopolymer of polypropylene.    
     
     
       20. A combination laminate film- foam composition underlayment and free - floating laminate wood floor of    claim 18    wherein said homopolymers and/or copolymers of polypropylene is a copolymer of polypropylene.    
     
     
       21. A combination laminate film- foam composition underlayment and free - floating laminate wood floor of    claim 18    wherein said homopolymers and/or copolymers of polypropylene are blended with other polymers.    
     
     
       22. A combination laminate film- foam composition underlayment and a free - floating laminate wood floor, said underlayment adjacent to said free - floating laminate wood floor and consisting essentially of a laminate of a closed cell foam sheet of polyethylenic resins or homopolymers and/or copolymers of polypropylene limiting flexing of said laminate wood floors by, having a thickness between about  0 . 03 - 0 . 1  inches and a density of about  1 - 5  pcf and a film sheet of polyethylenic resins or homopolymers and/or copolymers of polypropylene providing a vapor barrier, said film sheet having a thickness of about  1 - 5  mils, adhered to said foam sheet and having a larger surface area than said foam sheet, at least one edge of the film sheet extending beyond the corresponding edge of the foam sheet, wherein said at least one edge of said film sheet having a length such that it is capable of overlapping an adjacent film sheet.    
     
     
       23. A combination laminate film- foam composition underlayment and free - floating laminate wood floor of    claim 22    wherein said polyethylenic resin is polyethylene.    
     
     
       24. A combination laminate film- foam composition underlayment and free - floating laminate wood floor of    claim 22    wherein said polyethylenic resin or homopolymers and/or copolymers of polypropylene is blended with other polymers.    
     
     
       25. A combination laminate film- foam composition underlayment and free - floating laminate wood floor of    claim 22    wherein said homopolymers and/or copolymers of polypropylene is a homopolymer of polypropylene.    
     
     
       26. A combination laminate film- foam composition underlayment and free - floating laminate wood floor of    claim 22    wherein said homopolymers and/or copolymers of polypropylene is a copolymer of polypropylene.