IP Library Granted Patent US 12,331,530
Granted Patent B2
US 12,331,530 · App. 17/757,118 · Granted Jun 17, 2025

Flooring element

Inventors: Kristof Van Vlassenrode (Deinze, BE); Jurgen Goessens (Dalton, GA)
Assignee: Unilin BV
E04F15/107B32B7/12B32B21/08B32B27/08B32B27/304B32B29/06E04F15/0215E04F15/105B32B2260/021B32B2260/046B32B2305/08B32B2315/085B32B2317/12B32B2317/16B32B2327/06B32B2471/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,331,530
App. No.
17/757,118
Granted
Jun 17, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Floor element comprising a top layer ( 102 ) attached to a substrate layer ( 104 ), in which the top layer ( 102 ) is itself layered, the top layer ( 102 ) comprising: —an optional backing layer ( 122 ) made of flexible polymer, —a flexible or semi-rigid polymer layer ( 124 ), onto or into which optionally at least one reinforcing layer ( 126 ) is attached or embedded, and —a finishing layer comprising a decorative layer ( 132 ), a wearing layer ( 134 ) thereon and optionally a coating ( 136 ) thereon; the substrate layer ( 104 ) being a rigid substrate layer.

Claims (23)

1. A floor element, wherein this floor element comprises a substrate layer and a top layer applied on top thereof, wherein said top layer and said substrate layer have an essentially matching surface area, wherein the substrate layer is based on Portland cement or on magnesium oxide cement and wherein the top layer comprises a polymer layer, a carrier layer provided with a decorative print and a wearing layer; wherein said polymer layer is located between said carrier layer provided with said decorative print and the substrate layer; wherein said polymer layer is a rigid PVC layer with a plasticizer content of less than 10 phr; and wherein the substrate layer exhibits a thickness that corresponds to at least half of the thickness of the floor element and exhibits a thickness of at least 3 millimeters, wherein a further polymer layer is applied on the side of the substrate layer that is turned away from the top layer, said further polymer layer being a rigid PVC layer with a plasticizer content of less than 10 phr, wherein said polymer layer has a thickness of at least 1 millimeter and said thickness of said polymer layer is smaller than said thickness of said substrate layer and said further polymer layer has a thickness of 2 millimeters or less, wherein said polymer layer and said further polymer layer are applied to a respective side of said substrate layer by means of an adhesive.

2. The floor element in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said polymer layer exhibits a thickness of 2 millimeters or less.

3. The floor element of claim 1 , wherein said top layer further comprises a coating on an outer side of said floor element.

4. The floor element of claim 3 , wherein said coating is a UV cured layer.

5. The floor element of claim 1 , wherein a textile reinforcement layer is attached to said polymer layer.

6. The floor element of claim 1 , wherein said polymer layer further comprises fillers.

7. The floor element of claim 1 , wherein said carrier layer is a PVC film.

8. The floor element of claim 1 , wherein the wearing layer is a PVC layer having a thickness between 0.15 mm and 1 mm and wherein said wearing layer is transparent and free from fillers.

9. The floor element of claim 8 , wherein said wearing layer comprises more than 20 phr of plasticizer.

10. A floor element, wherein this floor element comprises a substrate layer and a top layer applied on top thereof,

wherein the substrate layer is based on Portland cement or on magnesium oxide cement,

wherein the substrate layer exhibits a thickness that corresponds to at least half of the thickness of the floor element and exhibits a thickness of at least 3 millimeters;

wherein said top layer comprises a polymer layer, a PVC film provided with a print and a wearing layer,

wherein a textile reinforcement layer is attached to said polymer layer,

wherein the wearing layer is a PVC layer having a thickness between 0.15 mm and 1 mm and wherein said wearing layer is transparent and free from fillers,

wherein said polymer layer is located between said PVC film and the substrate layer; wherein said polymer layer is a rigid PVC layer with a plasticizer content of less than 10 phr;

wherein a further polymer layer is applied on the side of the substrate layer that is turned away from the top layer, said further polymer layer being a rigid PVC layer with a plasticizer content of less than 10 phr;

wherein said polymer layer has a thickness of at least 1 millimeter and said thickness of said polymer layer is smaller than said thickness of said substrate layer and said further polymer layer has a thickness of 2 millimeters or less, wherein said polymer layer and said further polymer layer are applied to a respective side of said substrate layer by means of an adhesive.

11. The floor element in accordance with claim 10 , wherein said polymer layer exhibits a thickness of 2 millimeters or less.

12. The floor element of claim 10 , wherein said top layer further comprises a coating on an outer side of said floor element.

13. The floor element of claim 12 , wherein said coating is a UV cured layer.

14. The floor element of claim 10 , wherein said polymer layer further comprises fillers.

15. The floor element of claim 10 , wherein said wearing layer comprises more than 20 phr of plasticizer.

Assignments (2)
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Mar 18, 2024
From: FLOORING INDUSTRIES LIMITED, SARL
To: UNILIN BV
Reel/Frame 066805/0445 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 8, 2022
From: VAN VLASSENRODE, KRISTOF; GOESSENS, JURGEN
To: FLOORING INDUSTRIES LIMITED, SARL
Reel/Frame 060463/0667 →
Priority Claims (1)
BE 2019/5882 · Dec 10, 2019 · national
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62958981 · Jan 9, 2020
Related Publication 20230010679A1 · Jan 12, 2023
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