Firma Carl Freudenberg

Hans-Michael Kuhl

Klaus Heckel

Gerhard Graab

A method of manufacturing a floor covering presses a bottom layer of a polymeric material into apertures in a top layer having a higher pressure-flow viscosity than the bottom layer. The pressure also joins the layers into the floor covering and forms a continuous pressure-vulcanization skin on the top thereof for more uniform soiling and wear characteristics. Selecting the size and arrangement of the apertures in the top layer produces a corresponding pattern of the bottom-layer material in the top of the joined layers which is independent of any surface configuration also imparted in the pressing.

Multi-colored floor covering and method of manufacturing it

A method of making an electrically-conductive floor covering presses a polymeric bottom layer into apertures in a top layer having a higher flow viscosity than the bottom layer, the pressure also bonding the layers together. The bottom layer contains from about 3% to about 80% by weight carbon black or graphite for electrical conduction; the top layer contains not more than about 0.5% thereof. The apertures in the top layer are at least 1 mm in diameter and regularly or irregularly spaced from the next adjacent aperture from about 2 mm to about 40 mm, the area of the apertures not exceeding 40% per unit area of the top layer. The dark color of the bottom layer resulting from its carbon black or graphite content therefore need not significantly affect the appearance of the top layer, but provides electrical conductivity through the apertures.

Growing community of inventors

Munich, Georgia

Hans-Michael Kuhl