IP Library Granted Patent US 12662822
Granted Patent B2
US 12662822 · App. 18/399,929 · Granted Jun 23, 2026

Luxury vinyl plank stair noses and other moldings

Inventor: Charles Paul Iannacone, III (Apache Junction, AZ)
Assignee: Finished Edge Technology LLC
E04F11/163E04F11/1045E04F2203/08
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12662822
App. No.
18/399,929
Granted
Jun 23, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A molding is made from a first flooring plank. A first groove is formed into the first flooring plank with a first flat bottom surface. A second groove is formed into the first flooring plank with a second flat bottom surface. The first flooring plank is folded at the first groove and second groove. A second flooring plank is disposed adjacent to the molding. A color and pattern of the first flooring plank and second flooring plank match.

Claims (34)

1 . A stair nose molding, comprising:

a first flooring plank including,

a core,

a padding layer disposed on a first surface of the core, and

an image layer disposed on a second surface of the core opposite the first surface;

a first groove formed through the padding layer and into the first flooring plank, wherein a surface of the padding layer and a surface of the first flooring plank within the first groove are coplanar; and

a second groove formed through the padding layer into the first flooring plank, wherein the first groove and second groove are formed only partially through the core, and wherein the first flooring plank is folded at the first groove and second groove.

2 . The stair nose molding of claim 1 , wherein the first flooring plank includes a clearcoat layer disposed on the image layer opposite the core.

3 . The stair nose molding of claim 1 , further including a second flooring plank disposed adjacent to the stair nose molding, wherein a color and pattern of the first flooring plank and second flooring plank match.

4 . The stair nose molding of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the core under the first groove is bent.

5 . The stair nose molding of claim 1 , wherein the first groove includes a second sloped surface oriented approximately in parallel to the surface of the padding layer and the surface of the first flooring plank when the first flooring plank is folded.

6 . The stair nose molding of claim 1 , further including an adhesive disposed in the first groove and second groove.

7 . The stair nose molding of claim 1 , further including a connector formed on an edge of the first flooring plank.

8 . A molding, comprising:

a flooring plank including a core, a padding layer disposed over the core, and an image layer disposed over the core opposite the padding layer; and

a groove formed into the flooring plank, wherein the flooring plank is folded at the groove such that a portion of the core under the groove is bent, and wherein a surface of the padding layer in the groove is coplanar to a surface of the core in the groove.

9 . The molding of claim 8 , wherein the groove includes a second sloped surface oriented substantially in parallel to the surface of the padding layer and the surface of the core when the first flooring plank is folded.

10 . The molding of claim 8 , further including an adhesive disposed in the groove.

11 . The molding of claim 8 , further including a platform and a flap formed into the flooring plank, wherein the flap is folded under the platform.

12 . The molding of claim 8 , further including a second groove formed into the flooring plank, wherein the flooring plank is folded at the second groove such that a second portion of the core under the groove is bent.

13 . The molding of claim 8 , further including a first connector formed on an edge of the flooring plank.

14 . The molding of claim 13 , further including a second flooring plank comprising a second connector formed on an edge of the second flooring plank, wherein the first connector and second connector are interconnected.

15 . A molding, comprising:

a flooring plank, wherein the flooring plank includes,

a core,

an image layer disposed on a first surface of the core,

a clearcoat layer disposed on the image layer opposite the core, and

a padding layer disposed on a second surface of the core opposite the image layer; and

a groove formed into the flooring plank through the padding layer and into the core, wherein a portion of the core remains at the bottom of the groove extending across an entire width of the groove, and wherein the flooring plank is folded at the groove.

16 . The molding of claim 15 , wherein the groove includes a first surface and second surface oriented substantially in parallel when the first flooring plank is folded.

17 . The molding of claim 15 , further including an adhesive disposed in the groove.

18 . The molding of claim 15 , further including a connector formed on an edge of the flooring plank.

19 . The molding of claim 15 , further including a second groove formed into the flooring plank through the padding layer and into the core, wherein a second portion of the core remains at the bottom of the second groove extending across an entire width of the second groove, and wherein the flooring plank is folded at the second groove.

20 . The molding of claim 15 , wherein a surface of the padding layer in the groove is coplanar to a surface of the core in the groove.