Patent ID: 9180640
Filing Date: 2015-11-10
Classification: B29D,E01C,E04F

Abstract:
1. A method for forming a modular floor tile for use in creating a flooring surface comprising a plurality of such tiles, the method comprising the steps of: defining a body of the tile to have a general upper surface and a lower surface; defining, on the general upper surface of the body, a plurality of pads, each pad in the plurality of pads being spaced apart on the general surface of the body from the others in the plurality of pads; forming the body of the tile from a first thermoplastic polymer compound to have a plurality of spaced-apart through-holes, each through-hole communicating from a respective pad on the general upper surface of the body to the lower surface of the body, each through-hole having an area on the upper surface of the body which is smaller than an area of the respective pad on the upper surface of the body; overmolding, onto the general upper surface of the body, the plurality of pads from a second thermoplastic polymer compound which is different from the first thermoplastic polymer compound; said step of overmolding including the steps of injecting the second thermoplastic polymer compound into a mold at at least one common fill point adjacent the lower surface of the body and flowing the second thermoplastic polymer compound from said at least one common fill point along at least one runner that extends laterally from said at least one common fill point to the through-holes and through the through-holes to form the plurality of pads on the general upper surface of the body.