Multilayer floor covering with releasable securing means

Claim 1

A CARPET CONSTRUCTION FOR COVERING A SECTION OF FLOOR, COMPRISING AN UNDER LAYER INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF MATING PANELS, SAID PANELS EACH COMPRISING A RIGID BASE LAYER ADAPTED TO REST ON AND COVER THE FLOOR SECTION TO BE COVERED, AN UPPER PADDED LAYER COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS EACH MOUNTED ON AND COVERING THE UPPER SURFACE OF EACH OF SAID PANELS, EACH OF SAID PANELS BEING BASICALLY RECTANGULAR IN SHAPE WITH ALTERNATE SPACED REGULAR INDENTATIONS IN THE EDGES THEREOF AND SPACED REGULAR PROJECTIONS IN THE EDGES SPACED BETWEEN THE INDENTATIONS, THE INDENTATIONS AND PROJECTIONS OF ABUTTING PANELS POSITIONED TO MUTUALLY INTERLOCK WHEREBY SAID PANELS COVER THE FLOOR SECTION; AND A CARPET LAYER RESTING ON SAID UNDER LAYER, SAID CARPET LAYER COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF MATCHED RECTANGULAR CARPET STRIPS COMBINEDLY COVERING THE FLOOR SECTION, SAID CARPET STRIPS EACH RESTING ON ONE PANEL AND ON THE PROJECTIONS EXTENDING OUT OF THE PANELS ADJACENT THE ONE PANEL, AND A PLURALITY OF RELEASABLE LATCHING MEANS SPACED ADJACENT THE PERIMETER OF THE UNDERSIDE OF EACH OF SAID STRIPS, EACH OF SAID LATCHING MEANS HAVING ONE MATING PORTION MOUNTED ON A PROJECTION OF THE ADJACENT PANEL AND ANOTHER MATING PORTION ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CARPET STRIP, WHEREBY THE CARPET LAYER IS REMOVABLY SECURED TO THE UNDER LAYER IN AN INTERLOCKING MANNER, SAID LATCHING MEANS ALLOWING MANUAL DETACHMENT OF SAID STRIPS INDIVIDUALLY FROM THE UNDERLAYER.