Patent · US Expired

Method for making a surface covering product and products resulting from said method

US5670237A · kind A · utility

86Cited by
32References
38Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 7, 1995
Grant dateSep 23, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 7, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T428/24736
  • WIPO fieldOther consumer goods
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

The present invention discloses surface covering products and methods and an apparatus for making surface covering products. In particular, the method of the present invention includes depositing color particles on a moving carrier to form a base layer. The base layer then comes in contact with a patterned embossing device such as a roll to create a depressed or displaced pattern image on the base layer. Afterwards, accent particles or pellets are sprinkled or applied over the embossed base layer. The embossed base layer is subjected to heat and/or pressure to consolidate the accent and color particles and form a preformed mass. The preformed mass is then pressed to form a fused, texture-created structure. The surface covering products made from the process of the present invention have unique geometric patterns with well-defined grout lines or irregular decorative designs.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.