Awi Licensing Company

Armstrong Cork Company

Armstrong World Industries, Inc.

Donald E Schneider

Peter A Christie

William M McQuate

Gary E Williams

George A Tudor

Steven F Hynicka

Donald E Barshinger

The invention relates to a textured surface covering having a hot melt wear layer without distortion of the visual image of the textured substrate. The wear layer substantially follows the contours of the substrate with minimum change in thickness of the wear layer over the textured surface and provides an aesthetically pleasing three dimensional appearance to the textured surface of the substrate. The wear layer exhibits significant clarity and visual depth, as well as improved maintenance (cleanability) properties. The resulting product has a visual image clarity reflecting any texture in the substrate including very light reflective (lenticular moray) embossings.

Hot melt calendered or extruded wear layer for embossed substrates

A laminated fabric floor product having an encapsulated fabric scrim within a vinyl resilient flooring structure. The laminated fabric floor product structure includes a PVC calendered base, a first hot melt film, a fabric, a second hot melt film, a calendered clear film, and a high performance coating. Traditional foamed and non-foamed substrates used in the flooring industry can be used in addition to the calendered base. All types of fabrics and scrims can be encapsulated. The fabrics can be both woven and non-woven types. Open scrims can be used with base layers that are printed or have a visual pattern so that design features and colors can be seen through the open areas of the scrim. The fabric layer can be printed with a design pattern and adhered to the base layer or substrate by the first hot melt adhesive film layer. The clear layer is adhered to the fabric layer by the second hot melt adhesive layer.

Resilient flooring structure with encapsulated fabric

The invention relates to a textured surface covering having a hot melt wear layer and methods of applying the hot melt wear layer to a textured or embossed surface without distortion of the visual image of the textured substrate. The wear layer substantially follows the contours of the substrate with minimum change in thickness of the wear layer over the textured surface and provides an aesthetically pleasing three dimensional appearance to the textured surface of the substrate. Melt applying the melt processable polymer resin to the textured substrate with a conformable pressure roll deter entrapment of bubbles between the wear layer and the textured substrate. Therefore, the wear layer exhibits significant clarity and visual depth, as well as improved maintenance (cleanability) properties. The resulting product has a visual image clarity reflecting any texture in the substrate including very light reflective (lenticular moray) embossings.

Hot melt calendered or extruded wear layer for embossed substrates and method of manufacture

The process for making a surface covering having an embossed wear surface, including embossed design portions which differ in elevation and shading, by depositing a liquid resinous base coating onto a backing, depositing a layer of resinous dryblend onto the liquid resinous coating while it is still wet, heating to sinter the dryblend and at least partially set the base coating, producing a design on the sintered layer by applying settable resinous ink to at least a portion thereof in sufficient amounts and viscosity to permit penetration of the ink into the dryblend layer to a depth of about 10 mils (0.254 mm) at the points of application, at least a portion of the design being formed by applying the ink in minute separate but closely spaced deposits, and heating the composite structure for final fusion to form a non-porous sheet wherein the design areas containing the closely spaced ink deposits may differ in shading and elevation in their ink-containing and non-ink-containing portions. These design areas may also differ in shading and elevation from the other ink-containing and non-ink-containing areas of the sheet. The resulting sheet may then be passed around a smooth (or textured) roll with the face of the sheet in contact therewith to provide any smoothing or texturing effect desired. Optionally, an overall resinous top coat may be applied.

Decorative multi-level embossed surface covering

The process for making a surface covering having an embossed wear surface, including embossed design portions which differ in elevation and shading, by depositing a liquid resinous base coating onto a backing, depositing a layer of resinous dryblend onto the liquid resinous coating while it is still wet, heating to sinter the dryblend and at least partially set the base coating, producing a design on the sintered layer by appling settable resinous ink to at least a portion thereof in sufficient amounts and viscosity to permit penetration of the ink into the dryblend layer to a depth of about 10 mils (0.254 mm) at the points of application, at least a portion of the design being formed by applying the ink in minute separate but closely spaced deposits, and heating the composite structure for final fusion to form a non-porous sheet wherein the design areas containing the closely spaced ink deposits may differ in shading and elevation in their ink-containing and non-ink-containing portions. These design areas may also differ in shading and elevation from the other ink-containing and non-ink-containing areas of the sheet. The resulting sheet may then be passed around a smooth (or textured) roll with the face of the sheet in contact therewith to provide any smoothing or texturing effect desired. Optionally, an overall resinous top coat may be applied.

Growing community of inventors

Lititz, PA, United States of America

Donald E Schneider