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US6647684B1 Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Flooring system

Assignee: High Mountain Flooring Inc
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Filing: 2001-11-05
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Granted: 2003-11-18
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Expires: 2021-11-05
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Abstract

Abstract A tile and frame flooring system consisting of uniform frame elements joined together so as to create a support frame upon which a tile rests. The frame elements combine to form a lattice of support frames covering the surface to be tiled. The tiles are nestled into the frames to complete the flooring. The wood frame and tiles merge in appearance to form an aesthetically pleasing and continuous floor surface that is easy for the user to install.

Inventors

  • 👤 Dayton C. Gank

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 08:00
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04F; E04F15/00; E04F15/02; E04F15/02005; E04F15/02194; E04F15/04; E04F15/041; E04F15/08; E04F15/082; E04F2201/00; E04F2201/05; E04F2201/0505

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim 150 words
A floor frame system, comprising: a plurality of uniform frame elements each having an elongated frame section with a first terminating end, a second terminating end opposed to said first terminating end, and elongated sides extending between said first and second terminating ends, each of said first and said second terminating ends having a first and a second short side, said short sides forming an angle of 90° there between, each of said elongated sides having a vertical surface, each of said frame elements also having opposed elongated extensions integral with and extending outwardly from a bottom portion of each of said vertical surfaces of said elongated frame section elongated sides; and said plurality of uniform frame elements fixedly connected at right angles at said terminating ends to form a closed frame unit, one of said elongated extensions being interior of said frame unit and defining a tile supporting ledge.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 150 words
A floor frame system, comprising: a plurality of uniform frame elements each having an elongated frame section with a first terminating end, a second terminating end opposed to said first terminating end, and elongated sides extending between said first and second terminating ends, each of said first and said second terminating ends having a first and a second short side, said short sides forming an angle of 90° there between, each of said elongated sides having a vertical surface, each of said frame elements also having opposed elongated extensions integral with and extending outwardly from a bottom portion of each of said vertical surfaces of said elongated frame section elongated sides; and said plurality of uniform frame elements fixedly connected at right angles at said terminating ends to form a closed frame unit, one of said elongated extensions being interior of said frame unit and defining a tile supporting ledge.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 185 words
A flooring system, comprising: a plurality of uniform frame elements each having an elongated frame section with a first terminating end, a second terminating end opposed to said first terminating end, and elongated sides extending between said first and second terminating ends, each of said first and said second terminating ends having a first and a second short side, said short sides forming an angle of 90° there between, each of said elongated sides having a vertical surface, each of said frame elements also having opposed elongated extensions integral with and extending outwardly from a bottom portion of each of said vertical surfaces of said elongated frame section elongated sides; said plurality of uniform frame elements fixedly connected at right angles at said terminating ends to form a closed frame unit, one of said elongated extensions being interior of said frame unit and defining a tile supporting ledge; a subsupport piece positioned inside an area defined by said tile supporting ledge of said frame unit; and a tile positioned so as to rest upon said tile supporting ledge and on top of said subsupport piece.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 185 words
A flooring system, comprising: a plurality of uniform frame elements each having an elongated frame section with a first terminating end, a second terminating end opposed to said first terminating end, and elongated sides extending between said first and second terminating ends, each of said first and said second terminating ends having a first and a second short side, said short sides forming an angle of 90° there between, each of said elongated sides having a vertical surface, each of said frame elements also having opposed elongated extensions integral with and extending outwardly from a bottom portion of each of said vertical surfaces of said elongated frame section elongated sides; said plurality of uniform frame elements fixedly connected at right angles at said terminating ends to form a closed frame unit, one of said elongated extensions being interior of said frame unit and defining a tile supporting ledge; a subsupport piece positioned inside an area defined by said tile supporting ledge of said frame unit; and a tile positioned so as to rest upon said tile supporting ledge and on top of said subsupport piece.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 49 words
The flooring system of claim 2 , said first and said second terminating ends of said frame unit having a dowel pin fixedly attached to a vertical surface of said first short side and said second short side defines an area on a vertical surface surrounding a mated recess.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 45 words
The flooring system of claim 3 , the placement of said first terminating end dowel pin being in vertical alignment with said second terminating end mated recess and said first terminating end mated recess is in vertical alignment with said second terminating end dowel pin.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 16 words
The flooring system of claim 2 , each of said elongated extensions being a blind nailer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 27 words
The flooring system of claim 5 , said blind nailers being tapered at each end to match the angle of said first and said second terminating ends.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 33 words
The flooring system of claim 6 , said blind nailers having a height equal to that of the height of said vertical surface of said frame element less the height of said tile.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 40 words
The flooring system of claim 7 , said subsupport square having a height equivalent to that of the height of said blind nailer and a length and a width equivalent to that of a border defined by said blind nailers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 22 words
The flooring system of claim 2 , said tile being of a size equivalent to said area defined by said frame unit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 46 words
The flooring system of claim 2 , the length and width of said frame elements being of a size so that when said plurality of frame elements is joined to form said frame unit, said frame unit interior dimensions are nearly equivalent to said tile dimensions.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 36 words
The flooring system of claim 10 , said frame elements having a length of between six and thirty-six inches and a width of between one and five inches, exclusive of the width of said blind nailer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 28 words
The flooring system of claim 11 , said frame elements having a length of twelve inches and a width of two inches, exclusive of said blind nailer width.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 25 words
The flooring system of claim 2 , said frame elements being composed of a material selected from the group consisting of wood, metal and minerals.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 27 words
The flooring system of claim 2 , said tiles being composed of a material selected from the group consisting of ceramic, stone, marble, granite, slate or wood.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 228 words
A flooring system, comprising: a plurality of uniform frame elements each having an elongated frame section with a first terminating end, a second terminating end opposed to said first terminating end, and elongated sides extending between said first and second terminating ends, each of said first and said second terminating ends having a first and a second short side, said short sides forming an angle of 90° there between, each of said elongated sides having a vertical surface, each of said frame elements also having opposed elongated extensions integral with and extending outwardly from a bottom portion of each of said vertical surfaces of said elongated frame section elongated sides; said plurality of uniform frame elements fixedly connected at right angles at said terminating ends to form a closed frame unit, one of said elongated extensions being interior of said frame unit and defining a tile supporting ledge; a subsupport piece positioned inside an area defamed by said tile supporting ledge of said frame unit; and a tile positioned so as to rest upon said tile supporting ledge and on top of said subsupport piece; and a sealant material applied to the area between said tile and said frame elements, intimately contacting said tile and said frame elements, and completely sealing said area, preventing a foreign substance from entering said area and further preventing slippage of said tile.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 228 words
A flooring system, comprising: a plurality of uniform frame elements each having an elongated frame section with a first terminating end, a second terminating end opposed to said first terminating end, and elongated sides extending between said first and second terminating ends, each of said first and said second terminating ends having a first and a second short side, said short sides forming an angle of 90° there between, each of said elongated sides having a vertical surface, each of said frame elements also having opposed elongated extensions integral with and extending outwardly from a bottom portion of each of said vertical surfaces of said elongated frame section elongated sides; said plurality of uniform frame elements fixedly connected at right angles at said terminating ends to form a closed frame unit, one of said elongated extensions being interior of said frame unit and defining a tile supporting ledge; a subsupport piece positioned inside an area defamed by said tile supporting ledge of said frame unit; and a tile positioned so as to rest upon said tile supporting ledge and on top of said subsupport piece; and a sealant material applied to the area between said tile and said frame elements, intimately contacting said tile and said frame elements, and completely sealing said area, preventing a foreign substance from entering said area and further preventing slippage of said tile.
Claim 19
Independent Claim 214 words
A method of assembling a flooring system, comprising the steps of: connecting four uniform frame elements each having an elongated frame section with a first terminating end, second opposed terminating end, and elongated sides extending between said first and second terminating ends, each of said first and said second terminating ends having a first and a second short side, said short sides forming an angle of 90° there between, each of said elongated sides having a vertical surface, each of said frame elements also having opposed elongated extensions integral with and extending outwardly from a bottom portion of each of said vertical surfaces of said elongated frame section elongated sides, to each other at right angles at said first and second terminating ends of each element to form a frame unit with a square configuration; placing said frame unit on a subfloor to be covered and aligning two of said connected frame elements with a corner of a room; affixing said frame unit to said floor by nailing a nail through one of said elongated extensions and into a subfloor; positioning a subsupport square within the center of said frame unit; and positioning a tile on top of and in direct contact with said support square and within the center of said frame unit.
Claim 20
Independent Claim 214 words
A method of assembling a flooring system, comprising the steps of: connecting four uniform frame elements each having an elongated frame section with a first terminating end, second opposed terminating end, and elongated sides extending between said first and second terminating ends, each of said first and said second terminating ends having a first and a second short side, said short sides forming an angle of 90° there between, each of said elongated sides having a vertical surface, each of said frame elements also having opposed elongated extensions integral with and extending outwardly from a bottom portion of each of said vertical surfaces of said elongated frame section elongated sides, to each other at right angles at said first and second terminating ends of each element to form a frame unit with a square configuration; placing said frame unit on a subfloor to be covered and aligning two of said connected frame elements with a corner of a room; affixing said frame unit to said floor by nailing a nail through one of said elongated extensions and into a subfloor; positioning a subsupport square within the center of said frame unit; and positioning a tile on top of and in direct contact with said support square and within the center of said frame unit.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 148 words
The method of claim 16 , further comprising the steps of: connecting said terminating ends of three additional frame elements with said frame unit at said terminating ends to form a second frame unit; affixing said second frame unit to said floor by nailing a nail through at least one of said elongated extensions of said additional frame elements and into a subfloor; positioning a second subsupport square within the center of said second frame unit; and positioning a second tile on top of and in direct contact with said second support square and within the center of said second frame unit, repeating the above steps of connecting said frame elements to said completed frame units, fastening said frame units to said subfloor, positioning said subsupport squares and said tiles in the center of said frame units, until a matrix of interconnected frame units covers said subsupport floor.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

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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) 2006-11-17 2007-05-19 2007-11-18 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2010-11-17 2011-05-19 2011-11-18 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2014-11-17 2015-05-19 2015-11-18 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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