Patent ID: 8394217
Filing Date: 2013-03-12
Classification: E04B,E04F,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method comprising placing a first floor plank on a subfloor; wherein the first floor plank has a length, a width, and a thickness; and wherein the first floor plank is placed on the subfloor so that the thickness of the first floor plank is substantially perpendicular to the subfloor, and the length and the width of the first floor plank are substantially parallel to the subfloor; placing a second floor plank on the subfloor; wherein the second floor plank has a length, a width, and a thickness; and wherein the second floor plank is placed on the subfloor so that the thickness of the second floor plank is substantially perpendicular to the subfloor, and the length and the width of the second floor plank are substantially parallel to the subfloor; wherein the first floor plank is comprised of a wear layer; a pattern film; and a a magnetic base layer, wherein the length and the width of the first floor plank are substantially larger than the thickness of the first floor plank; wherein the magnetic base layer of the first floor plank has a magnetic field which is in a direction substantially parallel to a plane defined by the length and the width of the first floor plank, and wherein the direction of the magnetic field is substantially perpendicular to the thickness of the first floor plank; wherein the second floor plank is comprised of a wear layer; a pattern film; and a a magnetic base layer, wherein the length and the width of the second floor plank are substantially larger than the thickness of the second floor plank; wherein the magnetic base layer of the second floor plank has a magnetic field which is in a direction substantially parallel to a plane defined by the length and the width of the second floor plank, and wherein the direction of the magnetic field of the second floor plank is substantially perpendicular to the thickness of the second floor plank; wherein the first floor plank and the second floor plank are placed on the subfloor so that the first floor plank and the second floor plank are adjacent one another and so that a first magnetic pole of the magnetic base layer of the first floor plank is placed between a first portion of the second floor plank and a second portion of the second floor plank; wherein the first portion of the second floor plank has a second magnetic pole which is opposite in polarity to the first magnetic pole of the magnetic base layer of the first floor plank; and wherein the second portion of the second floor plank has a third magnetic pole which is opposite in polarity to the first magnetic pole of the magnetic base layer of the first floor plank; wherein the first magnetic pole of the first floor plank is placed between the first portion of the second floor plank and the second portion of the second floor plank so that the first magnetic pole is attracted to the second magnetic pole in a first direction, and is simultaneously is attracted to the third magnetic pole in a second direction, which is opposite the first direction to thereby magnetically connect the first floor plank and the second floor plank.