ENGINEERED WATERPROOF PLASTIC COMPOSITE FLOORING AND WALL COVERING PLANKS

Abstract

Waterproof engineered floor and wall planks have a veneer layer bonded with a plastic composite core, and an underlayer, preferably an underlayer of cork.

Claims

1. An engineered waterproof plank comprising: a waterproof core comprising a plastic composite, wherein the plastic composite further comprises a plastic and a filler; and a veneer layer encapsulated in a resin to render the veneer layer waterproof and wear resistant, wherein the veneer layer is bonded to a top surface of the waterproof core using a waterproof adhesive.

2. The plank of claim 1, wherein the plank further comprises a first edge with a groove extending laterally into the plank and a second opposite edge with a lateral protrusion from the plank, wherein the groove and protrusion have profiles shaped to form a click-lock edge fastening system.

3. The plank of claim 1, further comprising an underlayer adhered to a bottom surface of the waterproof core by a second waterproof adhesive, wherein the underlayer comprises at least one of cork, rubber, foam, or a waterproof paper.

4. The plank of claim 1, wherein the filler comprises calcium carbonate.

5. The plank of claim 1, further comprising a cover layer over the veneer layer.

6. The plank of claim 1, wherein the veneer layer comprises a cork veneer, a bamboo veneer, a tile veneer, a stone veneer, a rubber veneer, a decorative plastic veneer, a linoleum veneer, or a decorative vinyl veneer.

7. The plank of claim 1, wherein the plank is constructed of materials such that exposure to moisture results in swelling of the plank's dimensions by less than 0.01%.

8. An engineered waterproof plank comprising: a waterproof core comprising a dust, a plastic, and an additive; a veneer layer bonded to a top surface of the waterproof core; and a protective cover layer disposed above the veneer layer, wherein the engineered waterproof plank further comprises a locking mechanism to interlock the engineered waterproof plank to an adjacent engineered waterproof plank.

9. The plank of claim 8, wherein the protective cover layer further comprises at least one of a melamine-based layer, an aluminum-oxide-based layer, or a polyurethane-based layer.

10. The plank of claim 8, wherein the additive comprises at least one anti-UV agent, anti-oxidation agent, stabilizer, colorant, anti-fungus agent, coupling agent, reinforcing agent, or lubricant.

11. The plank of claim 8, wherein the dust comprises at least one of a bamboo dust or a cork dust.

12. The plank of claim 8, wherein the veneer layer is bonded to the top surface of the waterproof core by a hot melt adhesive.

13. The plank of claim 8, wherein the plastic comprises at least one of a high density polyethylene, a virgin PVC, or a recycled PVC.

14. The plank of claim 8, wherein the plank is constructed of materials such that exposure to moisture results in swelling of the plank's dimensions by less than 0.01%.

15. An engineered waterproof plank comprising: a rigid inert core that is at least one of waterproof or water-resistant, wherein the rigid inert core comprises a plastic composite, and further wherein the plastic composite comprises a plastic and a filler; a veneer layer adhered to a top surface of the rigid inert core; and a waterproof adhesive layer bonding the veneer layer to the top surface of the rigid inert core.

16. The plank of claim 15, wherein the plank further comprises a first edge with a groove extending laterally into the plank and a second opposite edge with a lateral protrusion from the plank, wherein the groove and protrusion have profiles shaped to form a click-lock edge fastening system.

17. The plank of claim 15, further comprising a cover layer disposed above the veneer layer, wherein the cover layer comprises at least one of a melamine-based layer, an aluminum-oxide-based layer, or a polyurethane-based layer.

18. The plank of claim 15, wherein the veneer layer comprises a tile veneer, a stone veneer, a rubber veneer, a decorative plastic veneer, a linoleum veneer or a decorative vinyl veneer.

19. The plank of claim 15, wherein the veneer layer is encapsulated in a resin to render the veneer layer waterproof and wear resistant.

20. The plank of claim 15, further comprising an underlayer bonded to a bottom surface of the rigid inert core by a second waterproof adhesive layer, wherein the underlayer comprises a cork, a rubber, a foam, or a waterproof paper.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] The particular features and advantages of the invention as well as other objects will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary engineered waterproof flooring plank according to the invention.

[0013] FIG. 2 is an exploded sectional view of an exemplary flooring plank according to the invention.

[0014] FIGS. 3a-d depict exemplary prior art click-lock edge configurations that may be advantageously used with various planks made according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0015] In general, the present invention relates to a waterproof engineered flooring plank or wall panel. The end view of the exemplary flooring plank 10 shown in FIG. 1 shows the three principal structural components of the plank. Specifically, the top surface is a veneer layer, such as wear layer 20, that is waterproof and is selected from a number of possible materials including: tile or stone veneers; rubber; decorative plastic; decorative vinyl; linoleum; and any material (such as cork, bamboo or wood veneer) encapsulated in vinyl or resin to render the layer waterproof and wear resistant. A decorative vinyl wear layer is particularly cost and performance effective. This surface is not only resistant to moisture, but can also be provided with a static coefficient of friction (CoF) of about 0.68 according to ASTM C 1028-96, and a CoF of at least about 0.60 is desirable for most applications.

[0016] The middle section or core 30 of the engineered plank 10 is a composite material formed from raw or unprocessed bamboo dust, wood dust, cork dust or a mixture thereof and high density polyethylene (HDPE) or alternatively, virgin or recycled PVC or a combination of such PVCs, and up to about 10% chemical additives such as anti-UV agents, anti-oxidation agents, stabilizers, colorants, anti-fungus agents, coupling agents, reinforcing agents, and lubricants. Calcium carbonate may also be added as a filler. After blending and melting the dust and HDPE or PVC, and additives and filler, the composite material is extruded to desired dimension. This type of HDPE and dust composite has previously been manufactured primarily for use as outdoor decks, railings and fences, but heretofore has not been used in a fashion that was sufficiently visually appealing or commercially viable for residential or commercial flooring. Instead, these wood-plastic or bamboo-plastic composites have been impregnated with colors according to a limited color pallet suitable and only promoted for exterior use. When used in the present invention, some additives, such as anti-UV agents, anti-fungals, and insecticides, are not needed. Also, heretofore, cork dust has not been a principal ingredient of the plastic composites. Whereas generally the addition of greater amounts of wood or bamboo dust provided greater rigidity to the resulting planks, cork dust retains some resilience even in the plastic mixture. The core 30 can be solid, or can be provided with channels or cavaties if desired, particularly in relatively thick embodiments.

[0017] The underlayment layer 40 is attached to the extruded dust and plastic core 30 and is also made of waterproof or water resistant material such as cork, rubber, foam or waterproof balancing paper.

[0018] The plank 10 also has a grooved end 50 with profile 51 and channel 52 that matches with protruding end 60 having profile 61 and protrusion 62. The particular profiles are made according to a preferred design to allow the panels to be quickly locked together, typically without the use of adhesive. However, if desired, an adhesive may be applied to the profiles therefore joining planks together to create a more permanent bonding of adjacent planks. The matching profiles may be of the click-lock variety depicted in FIGS. 3a-d or a more traditional tongue and groove construction that generally requires the use of an adhesive.

[0019] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the various layers that may be included in a plank or wall panel of the invention. The top layer 21 is an optional protective overlay or cover layer that is most desirable when the wear layer 20 is not particularly durable. Preferred top layer characteristics include transparency, hardness and scratch resistance. Exemplary materials for a top layer 21 include melamine resin with aluminum oxide and polyurethane. Wear layer 20 is less likely to benefit from a top layer 21 when comprised of a durable material such as tile or stone, or when the wear layer 20 already includes a protective hardener such as is the case with resin or vinyl encapsulated bamboo, wood or cork.

[0020] A bonding layer 22 joins the wear layer 20 to the core 30 and is typically, though not exclusively, a water resistant adhesive. A preferred adhesive type is a hot melt adhesive that can be applied during the manufacture of the engineered flooring or wall covering, at temperatures over 200° F., and more commonly over 250° F., and is therefore not suitable for convenient use at a residence or commercial establishment when flooring is being installed. The hot melt adhesive should be water resistant or nearly impervious to significant and prolonged exposure to moisture.

[0021] Another bonding layer 41 joins the underlayment layer 40 to the core 30. As with the first bonding layer 22, this second bonding layer 41 is also preferably a hot melt adhesive that is nearly impervious to moisture. The underlayment layer 40 is selected from a variety of possible materials depending upon the price point and functionality of the flooring or wall covering planks.

[0022] Planks according to the present invention are advantageously provided with click-lock edge systems, such as the protrusion 62 that co-operates with channel 52 and edge profiles 51, 61. Pervan, U.S. Pat. No. 6,023,907 and Morian, U.S. Pat. No. 6,006,486 disclose two of the leading edge fastening systems. FIGS. 3a-d show a variety of other click-lock edges. The system in FIG. 3a can be angled and snapped, FIG. 3b shows a snap joint, FIG. 3c can be angled and snapped but generally has less joining strength than the system of FIG. 3a. FIG. 3d also shows lock and fold panels with the first panel having a channel on the right edge being installed and the second panel being angled so that its protrusion enters the channel and the top edges of the two panels contact, and then rotating the second panel downward until the profiles are locked. When using click-lock edges, it is relatively straightforward to install floating flooring without adhesives. The particular edge system that is preferred for a particular plank may vary depending upon the dimensions and rigidity of the plank. It will also be understood that planks and panels according to the present invention can be installed using adhesives, and the adhesives can be applied to join the edges of the planks or to attach the planks to the subfloor or wall, or both.

[0023] The planks and panels according to the invention are generally rectangular having a thickness of up to about one inch (about 25.4 mm) and a width of between about 2 and 12 inches (about 50 mm to about 305 mm). In general, flooring planks will have a greater thickness than wall covering planks or panels. The use of recycled wood, cork or bamboo dust contributes to sustainability through the responsible management of resources, and provided bamboo, cork or sustainably harvested wood is used, results in an environmentally friendly building material.

[0024] The planks and panels manufactured according to the invention are nearly impervious to swelling and have great dimensional stability. These planks and panels exhibit variations due to moisture of less than 0.01%. The products can also be manufactured to tolerances of less than 0.25 mm of length, width and straightness, and many suitable wear layers provide colorfast and cleanable surfaces.

[0025] Numerous alterations of the structure herein disclosed will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. However, it is to be understood that the present disclosure relates to the preferred embodiment of the invention which is for purposes of illustration only and not to be construed as a limitation of the invention. All such modifications which do not depart from the spirit of the invention are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.