Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
118 words
An outdoor flooring system that is laid down upon a level substrate, that includes planks that are laid down end to end in spaced apart rows upon said substrate, each plank containing at least two connectors spaced apart along the plank's underside, each connector further includes first and second base blocks having opposed surfaces, said blocks extending transversely across the underside of said plank at one end thereof, the blocks further including spaced apart teeth mounted upon the opposed surfaces, said teeth extending longitudinally beneath the plank, the teeth of one block being interlocked with the teeth of the other block, and means for securing said first block to the plank and said second block to the substrate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
118 words
An outdoor flooring system that is laid down upon a level substrate, that includes planks that are laid down end to end in spaced apart rows upon said substrate, each plank containing at least two connectors spaced apart along the plank's underside, each connector further includes first and second base blocks having opposed surfaces, said blocks extending transversely across the underside of said plank at one end thereof, the blocks further including spaced apart teeth mounted upon the opposed surfaces, said teeth extending longitudinally beneath the plank, the teeth of one block being interlocked with the teeth of the other block, and means for securing said first block to the plank and said second block to the substrate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The system of claim 1 wherein each interlocking tooth has a rectangular profile, the longitudinal faces of said tooth converging downwardly from the top of the tooth toward said base block at an angle of between 3° and 5°.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 2 that further includes adhesive means on the meshing longitudinal faces of said teeth for fixing the first and second base blocks together.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system of claim 1 wherein one base block contains a recess at one end thereof and the other base block contains a catch that is snap fitted into said recess when the teeth are meshed in interlocking engagement thereby locking the blocks together.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said first base block is secured to the underside of said plank by threaded fasteners that pass through receiving holes in said first base block and said second base block is secured to said substrate by threaded fasteners that pass through receiving holes in said second base block.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 1 that further includes a seal interposed between the first base block and the planks and the second base blocks and the substrate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 1 wherein each plank further includes raised relief patterns that are integral with the plank.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 7 wherein said raised relief patterns are circular in form and have convex side walls whereby moisture will not collect around the raised relief patterns.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the planks are fabricated of wood.