Patent ID: 8726602
Filing Date: 2014-05-20
Classification: E04F

Abstract:
1. A flexible interlocking floor tile having a rectangular shape for being placed over a floor or subfloor, said floor tile comprising: a top layer; outwardly-facing top sidewalls on two first adjacent side portions of said tile; a bottom interlocking element set including a bottom base extending outwardly from each of said outwardly-facing top sidewalls and a bottom upwardly extending male locking projection, said bottom upwardly extending male locking projection having an inwardly-facing bottom sidewall spaced from each of said outwardly-facing top sidewalls defining a bottom channel therebetween; a bottom base element connecting respective bottom interlocking element sets on said respective two first adjacent side portions, said bottom base element defining an outer corner and being devoid of any male locking portion projecting therefrom; a base layer; outwardly-facing bottom sidewalls on two second adjacent side portions of said tile opposite said respective two first adjacent side portions, said two second adjacent side portions meeting at an upper corner of said floor tile; a top interlocking element set including a top base extending outwardly from each of said outwardly-facing bottom sidewalls and a top male downwardly extending locking projection, said top male downwardly extending locking projection having an inwardly-facing top sidewall spaced from each of said outwardly-facing bottom sidewalls defining a top channel therebetween; a top base element connecting respective top interlocking element sets on said two second adjacent side portions of said tile and forming said upper corner of said floor tile, said top base element including a downwardly depending support post for providing support in conjunction with the bottom base element in response to said support post being seated on said top base element when multiple ones of said tiles are joined together; and a top portion and a bottom portion, said top portion including a resilient first material having a rubber component and facing away from the floor or subfloor when said flexible interlocking floor tile is placed on a floor or subfloor, and said bottom portion including a resilient second material different from said first material and having a rubber component and facing the floor or subfloor when said flexible interlocking floor tile is placed on the floor or subfloor; said top portion and said bottom portion being combined together by vulcanization to form said flexible interlocking floor tile as a dual construction, said dual construction comprising said top portion and said bottom portion; wherein said top portion comprises said top layer, said outwardly-facing top sidewalls, said bottom interlocking element set, said bottom base element, said top interlocking element set, and said top base element; and said bottom portion comprises said base layer and said outwardly-facing bottom sidewalls.