US4567704A — Resilient ceramic tile flooring

Claim 1

Independent Claim 185 words

A method for improving the resiliency yet maintaining and improving the wearability of a ceramic tile floor covering which comprises ceramic tile arranged in an edge-to-edge, spaced apart relationship, said method comprising the steps of arranging said ceramic tiles in said relationship to overlay but not to be secured directly to a resilient rubbery backing of a flexible foamed or cellular plastic material having a thickness of greater than 1/32nd inch and up to one inch, the resiliency of said backing layer as measured on a Shore A Durometer is between 0 and 40 and wherein the compression deflection of said resilient backing is from 1 to 40 psi as defined in ASTM Test D-1056; and bonding said ceramic tiles to each other along their respective edges with a flexible grouting having resiliency characteristics, said grouting forming an interlocking lattice of flexible adhesive between and separating each of said ceramic tiles and bonding adjacent tile pieces at their edges wherein the top and bottom faces of the ceramic tiles are free of the grouting material and the edges of said tile pieces are substantially vertical.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 185 words

A method for improving the resiliency yet maintaining and improving the wearability of a ceramic tile floor covering which comprises ceramic tile arranged in an edge-to-edge, spaced apart relationship, said method comprising the steps of arranging said ceramic tiles in said relationship to overlay but not to be secured directly to a resilient rubbery backing of a flexible foamed or cellular plastic material having a thickness of greater than 1/32nd inch and up to one inch, the resiliency of said backing layer as measured on a Shore A Durometer is between 0 and 40 and wherein the compression deflection of said resilient backing is from 1 to 40 psi as defined in ASTM Test D-1056; and bonding said ceramic tiles to each other along their respective edges with a flexible grouting having resiliency characteristics, said grouting forming an interlocking lattice of flexible adhesive between and separating each of said ceramic tiles and bonding adjacent tile pieces at their edges wherein the top and bottom faces of the ceramic tiles are free of the grouting material and the edges of said tile pieces are substantially vertical.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method of claim 1 wherein the resilient rubbery backing is selected from the group consisting of foamed vinyls and urethane foam.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 34 words

The method of claim 1 wherein the flexible grouting material is a natural or synthetic rubber or polymer selected from the group consisting of polymers of urethanes, vinyls, acrylics, epoxies, silicones and combinations thereof.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method of claim 1 wherein the ceramic tiles are adhered to the backing layer by an adhesive.

Claim 6

Independent Claim 197 words

A method for rendering a floor resilient with a surface covering composed substantially of rigid materials, said method comprising the steps of arranging in an edge-to-edge, spaced apart relationship rigid floor covering pieces selected from the group consisting of ceramic tiles, marble, slate and glass having overall dimensions less than 12"×12"; placing said floor covering pieces in said relationship to overlay but not to be directly secured to a resilient rubbery backing layer composed of open-celled flexible foamed plastic materials, wherein said rubbery backing is greater than 1/32nd inch and up to one inch thickness and has a resiliency as measured on a Shore A Durometer of between 0 and 40 and a compression deflection from 1 to 40 psi as defined in ASTM Test D-1056; and bonding said floor covering pieces to each other along their respective edges with a flexible grouting having resiliency characteristics, said grouting forming an interlocking lattice of flexible adhesive between and separating each of said floor covering pieces and bonding adjacent pieces at their edges wherein the top and bottom faces of the ceramic tiles are free of the grouting material and the edges of said tile pieces are substantially vertical.

Claim 7

Independent Claim 197 words

A method for rendering a floor resilient with a surface covering composed substantially of rigid materials, said method comprising the steps of arranging in an edge-to-edge, spaced apart relationship rigid floor covering pieces selected from the group consisting of ceramic tiles, marble, slate and glass having overall dimensions less than 12"×12"; placing said floor covering pieces in said relationship to overlay but not to be directly secured to a resilient rubbery backing layer composed of open-celled flexible foamed plastic materials, wherein said rubbery backing is greater than 1/32nd inch and up to one inch thickness and has a resiliency as measured on a Shore A Durometer of between 0 and 40 and a compression deflection from 1 to 40 psi as defined in ASTM Test D-1056; and bonding said floor covering pieces to each other along their respective edges with a flexible grouting having resiliency characteristics, said grouting forming an interlocking lattice of flexible adhesive between and separating each of said floor covering pieces and bonding adjacent pieces at their edges wherein the top and bottom faces of the ceramic tiles are free of the grouting material and the edges of said tile pieces are substantially vertical.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 15 words

The method of claim 5 wherein said backing layer is a open-celled foamed neoprene rubber.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 195 words

A floor covering characterized as having a hard tiled surface but having resilient characteristics and capable of withstanding normal floor use, said floor covering comprising a resilient backing of a flexible foamed or cellular material having a thickness of greater than 1/32nd inch and up to one inch, said backing arranged in intimate contact with the floor, the resiliency of said backing layer as measured on a Shore A Durometer is between 10 and 40 and wherein the compression deflection of said resilient backing is from 3 to 40 psi as defined in ASTM Test D-1056; a plurality of ceramic tiles spaced edge-to-edge to overlay but not to be secured directly to the resilient backing, said tiles being spaced sufficiently from each other so as to form a groove between adjacent tiles; and flexible grouting in the area between the ceramic tiles, said grout having resiliency characteristics and forming an interlocking lattice of flexible material between and separating each of said tiles, bonding adjacent tile pieces at their edges wherein the top and bottom faces of the ceramic pieces are free of the grouting materials and the edges of said tile pieces are substantially vertical.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 195 words

A floor covering characterized as having a hard tiled surface but having resilient characteristics and capable of withstanding normal floor use, said floor covering comprising a resilient backing of a flexible foamed or cellular material having a thickness of greater than 1/32nd inch and up to one inch, said backing arranged in intimate contact with the floor, the resiliency of said backing layer as measured on a Shore A Durometer is between 10 and 40 and wherein the compression deflection of said resilient backing is from 3 to 40 psi as defined in ASTM Test D-1056; a plurality of ceramic tiles spaced edge-to-edge to overlay but not to be secured directly to the resilient backing, said tiles being spaced sufficiently from each other so as to form a groove between adjacent tiles; and flexible grouting in the area between the ceramic tiles, said grout having resiliency characteristics and forming an interlocking lattice of flexible material between and separating each of said tiles, bonding adjacent tile pieces at their edges wherein the top and bottom faces of the ceramic pieces are free of the grouting materials and the edges of said tile pieces are substantially vertical.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 21 words

The floor covering as described in claim 7 wherein the ceramic tiles are adhered to the backing layer by an adhesive.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 21 words

The floor covering as described in claim 7 wherein the resilient backing is composed of a closed-celled flexible foamed plastic material.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 30 words

The floor covering as described in claim 7 wherein the backing layer is comprised of a flexible foamed plastic selected from the group consisting of foamed vinyls and urethane foam.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 18 words

The floor covering as described in claim 7 wherein the foamed material is a closed-celled foamed neoprene rubber.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 38 words

The floor covering as described in claim 7 wherein the flexible grouting material is a natural or synthetic rubber or polymer selected from the group consisting of polymers of urethanes, vinyls, acrylics, epoxies, and silicones and combinations thereof.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 27 words

The floor covering as described in claim 7 wherein the grouting material has a resiliency as measured on a Shore A Durometer of from 30 to 80.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1989-02-03	1989-08-05	1990-02-04	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1993-02-03	1993-08-05	1994-02-04	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1997-02-03	1997-08-05	1998-02-04	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Resilient ceramic tile flooring

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