US5630304A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Adjustable interlock floor tile
Assignee: Wearwell LLC
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Filing: 1996-08-26
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Granted: 1997-05-20
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Expires: 2016-08-26
Abstract
Abstract A quadrilateral floor tile is provided with a generally flat top surface with each side having a downward sloping edge, inclining toward the floor. Two of the sides, being adjacent, are formed with an integral interlocking strips, each having a plurality of spaced-apart male connecting members. The remaining sides of the tile are formed with a plurality of cavities located to the interior to the sloping edge. Each of the cavities is positioned to mate with a corresponding male connecting member of a neighboring tile. In use, the tiles are interlocked with a number of like tiles to form a basic floor surface. When the outer periphery of the floor surface is encountered, a finished tile edge is formed on perimeter tiles by severing the interlock strip from each tile. The length of each interlock strip may also be adjusted to interlock only at points of intersection with neighboring tiles or may be removed entirely to form a smooth edge.
Inventors
- 👤 John Austin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 15:35
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04F; E04F15/00; E04F15/02; E04F15/10; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/19; Y10T428/192; Y10T428/195
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
An interlocking tile for forming a walking surface, having an adjustable interlock, comprising: a. a top surface with four sides and a bottom surface; b. each of said sides having a downwardly sloping edge, inclining outwardly from said top surface to said bottom surface; c. at least one of said sides having an intergral strip which extends outwardly from said side, said strip supporting a plurality of male connecting members and constructed to be severable at any point from said downwardly sloping edge; and, d. at least one of said sides having a plurality of cavities, which are located adjacent to said side and facing downward from said top surface, said cavities being positioned to mate with any male connecting member of any other like tile.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
126 words
An interlocking tile for forming a walking surface, having an adjustable interlock, comprising: a. a top surface with four sides and a bottom surface; b. each of said sides having a downwardly sloping edge, inclining outwardly from said top surface to said bottom surface; c. at least one of said sides having an intergral strip which extends outwardly from said side, said strip supporting a plurality of male connecting members and constructed to be severable at any point from said downwardly sloping edge; and, d. at least one of said sides having a plurality of cavities, which are located adjacent to said side and facing downward from said top surface, said cavities being positioned to mate with any male connecting member of any other like tile.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
147 words
An interlocking tile for forming a walking surface, having an adjustable interlock, comprising: a. a top surface with four sides and a bottom surface; b. each of said sides having a downwardly sloping edge, inclining outwardly from said top surface to said bottom surface; c. a male connecting means for connecting two adjacent tiles together in the form of integral strip which extends outwardly from said sloping edge of two adjacent said sides, said strip supporting a plurality of male connecting members and constructed to be severable from said sloping edge at any point along said sloping edge; and, d. a corresponding female connecting means in the form of a plurality of cavities, facing downward from said top surface and located adjacent to at least one said sloping sides, each of said cavities being positioned to mate with any male connecting member of any other like tile.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
147 words
An interlocking tile for forming a walking surface, having an adjustable interlock, comprising: a. a top surface with four sides and a bottom surface; b. each of said sides having a downwardly sloping edge, inclining outwardly from said top surface to said bottom surface; c. a male connecting means for connecting two adjacent tiles together in the form of integral strip which extends outwardly from said sloping edge of two adjacent said sides, said strip supporting a plurality of male connecting members and constructed to be severable from said sloping edge at any point along said sloping edge; and, d. a corresponding female connecting means in the form of a plurality of cavities, facing downward from said top surface and located adjacent to at least one said sloping sides, each of said cavities being positioned to mate with any male connecting member of any other like tile.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
154 words
A method of constructing a walking surface comprising the steps of: selecting a floor tile with four sides, a top surface and a bottom surface, said sides having downwardly sloping edges inclining from said top surface to said bottom surface and at least one of said edges having been extended outwardly from said tile to form an interlocking strip having a plurality of male connecting members and at least one of said sides being formed with a plurality of cavities located adjacent to said side and which cavities are positioned to mate with any connecting male member of any like tile; interlocking said male connecting members and cavities of said tile with the male connecting members and the cavities of other like tiles until a complete floor covering is formed; and, severing any unused interlocking strips from said tiles so as to produce a complete floor covering with only sloping edges on its perimeter.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
154 words
A method of constructing a walking surface comprising the steps of: selecting a floor tile with four sides, a top surface and a bottom surface, said sides having downwardly sloping edges inclining from said top surface to said bottom surface and at least one of said edges having been extended outwardly from said tile to form an interlocking strip having a plurality of male connecting members and at least one of said sides being formed with a plurality of cavities located adjacent to said side and which cavities are positioned to mate with any connecting male member of any like tile; interlocking said male connecting members and cavities of said tile with the male connecting members and the cavities of other like tiles until a complete floor covering is formed; and, severing any unused interlocking strips from said tiles so as to produce a complete floor covering with only sloping edges on its perimeter.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-05-19 | 2000-11-18 | 2001-05-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-05-19 | 2004-11-18 | 2005-05-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-05-19 | 2008-11-18 | 2009-05-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |