[0001] The invention is a molding for use with floating floors, for example, for positioning along the corner formed between a wall and a floating floor.
[0002] Floating floors are well-known in the art. In general, a floating floor provides a unique feel and sound as compared to a secured floor, which often is a very hard material, such as a concrete subfloor, or wood applied to a subfloor. A floating floor, such as a laminate floor, is installed to float above the subfloor by the use of an underlayment between the subfloor and the floating floor.
[0003] Of course, the floating floor will have some bend, give and flexibility. The edges of the floating floor should come as close as possible to the wall; however, exact precision is rarely possible. Additionally, expansion gaps are necessary to allow for expansion of the flooring material. Thus, moldings are used to cover the edge of the floating floor.
[0004] Notwithstanding their aesthetic and decorative beauty, floating floors often present maintenance problems. Moisture seeping between the subfloor and floating floor could cause extensive damage, especially to composite floating floors, such as those made of a compressed core of wood fibers, known in the industry as medium density fiberboard (MDF) and high density fiberboard (HDF).
[0005] The moldings of the prior art provide an aesthetic, finished look by hiding the expansion gap that exists between the floating floor and a wall. However, because a floating floor requires a gap for expansion space of approximately ¼″, and floats on a sound deadening or impact-alleviating underlayment, permitting flexibility of the floating floor, a water tight fit between the molding of the prior art and the floating floor could not be maintained.
[0006] The invention is a molding for positioning along the corner formed a first surface, such as a wall, and a floating floor. The molding has a generally planar floating floor engaging surface, and a wall engaging surface, and is made of the same material as the floating floor including an identical or complementary color and pattern. An elastomeric, compressed open-cell, or closed-cell foam pad is positioned on the lower edge of the molding along the floating-floor engaging face, and the pad resiliently creates a substantially moisture-tight seal so as to prevent moisture from the core of the floating floor, the underlayment, or into the gap between the floating floor and wall.
[0007] Optionally, the molding may include an adhesive positioned on the pad and configured to engage the floating floor when the molding is in the installed position. It may also include apertures in the wall engaging surface to allow a connector to pass therethrough, the connector fastening the molding to the corner when the molding is in the installed position.
[0008] The molding may a generally quarter-round cross-section at planes transverse to the longitudinal axis. An intermediate surface may connect the wall-engaging surface and the floating-floor engaging surface. Generally, the intermediate surface is angled so that the wall, floating floor, and intermediate surface form a generally triangular shape in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis.
[0009] The molding may have a face positioned to face outwardly from the corner. The face may be curved or flat, depending on one's individual tastes. The cross section of the molding, at planes transverse to the longitudinal axis, may be generally uniform. The molding may be formed of MDF or HDF to which is adhered a surface layer or a thermosetting resin and a decor sheet. The resin is preferably a melamine resin, though other resins are suitable. Optionally, hard metal or ceramic particles, such as aluminum oxide or silicon dioxide, etc. may be imbedded in the decor or overlay it so as to provide abrasion resistance.
[0010] The invention further comprises a method of preventing moisture from seeping into a gap between a floating floor and a molding. The method includes the steps of installing a molding into contact with the floating floor; the molding has a pad positioned to contact the floating floor.
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[0020] In the embodiment shown in
[0021] In
[0022]
[0023] The floating floor
[0024]
[0025] When weight is applied to the floating floor
[0026]
[0027]
[0028] The design as shown in
[0029] The invention may also be incorporated into carpet reducers, hard surface reducers, T-moldings and stair nosings that are not flush moldings, and therefore do not require foam beneath the portions of the moldings that overlap and press against the floating floor. These embodiments of the invention use a pressure fit from snapping the moldings
[0030]
[0031] As shown in
[0032] It is to be understood that the moldings of the invention are not limited to the shapes illustrated in the appended drawings; they may be of any shape known to one skilled in the art.
[0033] Moreover, the floating floors, as used in the present invention, are not limited to a laminate or a core of MDF or HDF, but may be used with floating floors of any construction, for example, wood veneer on a base of plywood; solid plastic panels, composite plastic, and foamed plastic panels; laminate and plywood panels, composite laminate, MDF or HDF and metal panels, wood and plastic panels, etc.
[0034] While the embodiments herein have been described in detail, the descriptions have been for illustrative purposes only, and have not been intended to limit the scope of the invention. The invention is limited only by the scope of the appended claims.