FACTORY-FINISHED PLYWOOD FLOOR COVERING

Abstract: The floor covering consists essentially of oblong plywood panels (1), each one of theme having two lower square-edged lips at concurrent edges (2), which make a right angle (A) and two upper square-edged lips (3) at the other two concurrent edges forming another right angle (B), diagonally opposite to the first one, which provide for perfect-fitted lap joints, both sidewise of a set of panels (1), which make up the floor covering that can be used on any floor surface, except carpeting and soft coverings, through the application of an insulation type - mortar on the subfloor surface, and after the mortar is set, application of a water-proof adhesive on the mortar and on the lower face of the panels (1) and on the lap joints (2, 3) of all panels, whose upper face is coated with a layer of varnish that is highly resistant to abrasion.

Description: Report Describing Patent of Invention of "FACTORY- FINISHED PLYWOOD FLOOR COVERING". This patent of invention refers to factory finished small plywood panels to be used as flooring material. Basically they are oblong sheets with edges machined in¬ to lap joints so that two concurrent edges, one on the narrow side and one on the long side, have a square ed¬ ged lip facing upward, and the opposite two edges have the square-edged lip facing downward. With this system a perfect fit can be obtained, both sidewise and lengthwi¬ se by mounting two or more panels on the subfloor. As it is well known, plywood panels can be used for several applications such as in concrete forms, furnitu¬ re manufacturing, wall panelling, doors, packaging and crates, etc. However, the utilization of plywood as fac¬ tory finished floor covering material is not known due to the fact that the plywood manufacturers never really considered such use feasible. This attitude was based on the apparent lack of strength of this material, compared to solid boards, which would make it unacceptable to the consumer. However, after carefully-conducted studies invol¬ ving different raw materials that were analysed as to their mechanical strength, hardness and abrasion resis- tance, and also involving different types of edge joints and subfloor conditions, it was decided that a satisfac¬ tory product had been developed which deserved to be pa¬ tented, due to its absolute characteristic of novelty, when compared with the traditional floor materials, such as narrow strips, parquet, wide boards, wood blocks,PVC, ceramic tiles, marble slabs, rough or polished granite or other natural or man-made stones, etc. The present plywood floor material is made up of oblong panels, whose veneers are treated with special - chemicals to prevent, insect and fungus attack, subm±ted to kiln-drying, glued with water-resistance adhesives - and carefully sanded after pressing operation. MPI The oblong panels are obtained by cutting the full size plywood sheets into sizes specified by the manufac¬ turer or any other size specified by the consumer, depen ding on the dimensions of the site of installation. However, in order to make installation easier it is preferable that the size of the plywood flooring descri¬ bed in this patent follow the criteria that sll panels should be of the same size and be obtained by cutting up plywood panels of uniform dimensions. .After the oblong panels are cut from the larger pl_ wood sheets they are fed through an edger and a router in order to form the lap joints that will guarantee a perfect installation on the subfloor. Twoconcurrent ed¬ ges have a square-edged lip facing upward and the opposi ^ te two concurrent edges have the same square-edged lip, but facing downward. Once the panels have been machined, they undergo - the finishing operation which consists of sanding, coa¬ ting with special varnish through roll or curtain-type - applicators and tunnel drying. The special varnish that coats the oblong panels - has a high resistance to abrasion and prevents the panels from shrinking or warping. The installation of the floor panels requires the levelling off of the surface of the subfloor, which can be achieved through the use of an insulation type mor¬ tar. .After the subfloor is ready and dry, the panels are installed by means of a water-resistance adhesive which is applied on the back of the panels and on the subfloor surface. To begin the installation, any of the oblong pa¬ nels is positioned on the subfloor, finished side fa¬ cing up in such a way that a symetric arrangement of the panels in the room can be achieved. The second pa- nel is laid in the same manner on the subfloor but - with the under lip of the lap joint fitting under the upper lip of the previous panel, and so on. This type of plywood floor covering can be applied on any type of subfloor, except carpeting and other type of soft covers, which do not present adequate conditions of rigidity and strength. The "FACTORY-FINISHED PLYWOOD FLOOR COVERING" that is the object of this patent of invention, can be better understood with the help of the enclosed drawings: Figure 1 - is an end view and a view from above of two oblong panels connected together lengthwise through the overlapping of one upper square-edged lip of one pa¬ nel with one under square-edged lip of the other panel. Figure 2 - is a perspective view of two oblong pa¬ nels side by side, ready for the assembly operations. Figure 3 - is an exploded view of one single oflong panel, above the floor covered with other panels, shown in perspective. As it can be seen from the drawings, this "FACTORY- FINISHED PLYWOOD FLOOR COVERING" is made up of oblong pa nels, each panel having two lower square-edged lips and two upper square-edged lips at concurrent edges so as to provide for a perfect-fitted lap joint when the panels are assembled, both lengthwise and sidewise. The upper face of each oblong panel is coated with a varnish that has a high resistence against abrasion caused by normal wear and that can be easily cleaned - with a regular mop or wet cloth. This "FACTORY-FINISHED PLYWOOD FLOOR COVERING",for its simple construction and easy of installation as well as for its characteristics of strength, regidity and hardness achieved through the perfect fit of the joints.- square-edeged upper and lower lips of the oblong panels, offers novel aspects to the consumer market of floor σ£ vering.

Claims: C L I M S 1 - "FACTORY-FINISHED PLYWOOD FLOOR COVERING", manu factured essentially as plywood panels that can be appli¬ ed on any subfloor surface except carpeting and soft co¬ vering, requiring only the levelling off of the subfloor with an insulation-type mortar, and after this mortar is set, the plywood floor covering is glued on the subfloor witha water-proof adhesive, and each panel is glued to the next along the square-edged lip joints, characteri¬ zed by oblong plywood panel (1) with two upper square- edged lips (2) on concurrent edges and two lower square- edged lips (3) on the other two edges, making opposed. 2 - "FACTORY-FINISHED PLYWOOD FLOOR COVERING",accor ding to Claim n. 1, characterized by perfect lengthwise and sidewise fit to oblong plywood panels XI) , by the - coupling of one lower square-edges lip (2) with an upper s-quare-edged lip (3) .

Inventors: ABRAHAMS JACOB, ABRAHAMS, JACOB
Applicants: ABRAHAMS JACOB, ABRAHAMS, JACOB
Application year: 1983
Main classification: E04F15
IPC codes: E04F15