Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
156 words
A unitized floor panel comprising: (a) at least one row comprising a plurality of unattached wooden tiles assembled in generally abutting relation, each of said wooden tiles comprising a plurality of slats assembled in a unitary block, said tiles being pre-sanded and including an upper surface coated with a finishing composition; (b) a layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive covering a portion of the upper surface of said tiles; and (c) a flexible carrier and protective sheet covering said adhesive and said tiles, said protective sheet being substantially co-extensive with said tiles, the adhesive bond formed between said sheet and said adhesive being stronger than the adhesive bond formed between said adhesive and said tiles, whereby said sheet is stripped from said tiles, both said sheet and said adhesive are removed therefrom, said cover comprising means for pulling the upper surfaces of all of said tiles into substantial alignment when said tiles are placed on an irregular surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
156 words
A unitized floor panel comprising: (a) at least one row comprising a plurality of unattached wooden tiles assembled in generally abutting relation, each of said wooden tiles comprising a plurality of slats assembled in a unitary block, said tiles being pre-sanded and including an upper surface coated with a finishing composition; (b) a layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive covering a portion of the upper surface of said tiles; and (c) a flexible carrier and protective sheet covering said adhesive and said tiles, said protective sheet being substantially co-extensive with said tiles, the adhesive bond formed between said sheet and said adhesive being stronger than the adhesive bond formed between said adhesive and said tiles, whereby said sheet is stripped from said tiles, both said sheet and said adhesive are removed therefrom, said cover comprising means for pulling the upper surfaces of all of said tiles into substantial alignment when said tiles are placed on an irregular surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A unitized floor panel in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of said wooden tiles comprises a plurality of parallel slats and wherein said tiles are arranged in a parquet fashion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A unitized floor panel in accordance with claim 1 wherein said wooden tiles are comprised of a wood-plastic composite.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A unitized floor panel in accordance with claim 1 wherein said finishing composition is selected from the group consisting of veneers, shellacs, linseed oil, tung oil, polyurethanes and mixtures thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A unitized floor panel in accordance with claim 1 wherein adjacent tiles of said plurality abut each other at butt joints.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
A unitized floor panel in accordance with claim 5 wherein said floor panel comprises at least two rows and is foldable into a relatively compact size by folding at least one of said rows over another of said rows such that one portion of said protective sheet is folded onto a second portion of said protective sheet.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
A unitized floor panel in accordance with claim 1 wherein said adhesive is an acrylic adhesive.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
A unitized floor panel in accordance with claim 1 wherein said adhesive covers the entire upper surface of said tiles.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
A unitized floor panel in accordance with claim 1 wherein said adhesive covers only a predetermined portion of the upper surface of said tiles.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
A unitized floor panel in accordance with claim 9 wherein said predetermined portion represents a plurality of adhesive strips.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
A unitized floor panel in accordance with claim 1 wherein said carrier and protective sheet comprises a transparent plastic film.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
A unitized floor panel in accordance with claim 11 wherein said film possesses low flammability.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
A unitized floor panel in accordance with claim 1 wherein said carrier and protective sheet comprises paper.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
A unitized floor panel in accordance with claim 13 wherein said paper has an outer surface having a printed design, said printed design corresponding to the arrangement of said tiles to which said sheet is adhered.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
A unitized floor panel in accordance with claim 13 wherein the outer surface of said paper is coated with a water repellent substance.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
A unitized floor panel in accordance with claim 1 wherein said sheet comprises a tear tab to initiate removal of said sheet from said tiles.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
A unitized floor panel in accordance with claim 1 wherein said sheet includes a plurality of spaced perforations.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
A unitized floor panel in accordance with claim 1 wherein said sheet has a sufficiently high shear strength to support the weight of said tiles without failure.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
A unitized floor panel in accordance with claim 1 wherein said panel is at least one foot wide and one foot long.