Interface, Inc.

Chung-Hsien Zah

Connie Daniel Hensler

Keith N Gray

Horace Eddie Bradley, Jr

Susan F Fezer

Albin F Turbak

Rodney A Smith

Connie D Hensler

Connectors for joining adjacent modular floor covering units. Embodiments of the connectors include a film and an adhesive layer coated on one side of the film. The connectors can have a conductive component that allows electrical continuity to be maintained between adjacent tiles. In yet another embodiment, the connectors can be equipped as radio frequency identification tags by including radio frequency transponders. To install tiles using the connectors, a first tile is placed on the floor and a connector is positioned so that the adhesive layer faces upward and does not contact the floor. The connector is typically positioned so that only a portion of the adhesive layer adheres to the underside of the tile, leaving the remainder of the connector extending from the underside of the tile. One or more tiles are then positioned adjacent the first tile so that a portion of the connector adheres to the adjacent tiles. In this way, the connectors span adjacent tile edges. The tiles are assembled on an underlying flooring surface without the need to attach them to the floor surface. Rather, the tiles are linked to each other with the connectors, so that the tiles create a floor covering that 'floats' on the underlying floor surface. Additionally, the tiles need not be installed directly on the floor surface. Rather, an underlayment, such as a film or cushion or cushion composite, may be positioned on the floor surface prior to the installation of tiles.

System and method for floor covering installation

A method to impart permanent stain resistance to polyamides, including nylon fiber and fibrous articles such as carpet and carpet tile, that includes treating the fiber with an isocyanate under moderate conditions that do not damage other materials that the fiber is attached to. Nylon carpet and carpet tile treated according to this method are highly suited for commercial use because they retain their stain resistance after repeated washings.

Permanent stain resistant treatment for polyamide fibers

Growing community of inventors

Kennesaw, GA, United States of America

Chung-Hsien Zah