Patent ID: 6851237

Claim:
A floor comprising: a plurality of rows ( 10 a , 10 b . . . 10 z ) of side by side floorboards ( 10 ) which are interconnected along longitudinal edges by a plurality of tongue ( 17 ) and groove ( 16 ) connections, the floorboards ( 10 ) having upper surfaces defining a floor surface, at least some of the tongue ( 17 ) and groove ( 16 ) connections including: a tongue ( 17 ) extending longitudinally along a first edge ( 14 ) of a first floorboard ( 10 a ) and a groove extending along an opposing second edge ( 13 ) of a second floorboard ( 10 b ), the tongue ( 17 ) sized to be received within the groove ( 16 ), the first ( 14 ) and second ( 13 ) edges being generally vertical along upper portions thereof located above the tongue and groove connection, wherein one of the first ( 14 ) and second ( 13 ) edges has an integral compression nub ( 20 ) spaced below the floor surface and protruding outwardly from the upper portion thereof and extending uninterrupted along the longitudinal edge of said one of the first ( 14 ) and second ( 13 ) edges, the compression nub ( 20 ) contacting the other of the first ( 14 ) and second ( 13 ) edges along the tongue ( 17 ) and groove ( 16 ) connection, whereby contact between the first ( 10 a ) and second ( 10 b ) floorboards along the compression nub ( 20 ) isolates the tongue ( 17 ) and groove ( 16 ) connection from the floor surface above and forms a space ( 25 ) between the first ( 14 ) and second ( 13 ) edges for localizing expansion and contraction between the rows of the floorboards and creating a seal therebetween, a base, and a substructure ( 18 ) supporting the plurality of rows ( 10 a , 10 b . . . 10 z ) of side-by-side floorboards ( 10 ) above the base.