IP Library Granted Patent US 10,094,124
Granted Patent B2
US 10,094,124 · App. 15/146,182 · Granted Oct 9, 2018

Engineered plank material having waterproofed veneer and its manufacturing method

Inventors: Ming Chen (Wilsonville, OR); Zhu Chen (Jiangsu, CN)
Assignee: WELLMADE FLOOR COVERING INT'L INC.
E04F15/042B32B5/024B32B5/028B32B7/12B32B17/065B32B21/06B32B21/10B32B21/14B32B29/005B32B37/10B32B37/12E04F15/102E04F15/107B32B2262/101B32B2305/38B32B2307/3065B32B2307/558B32B2307/73B32B2419/04B32B2471/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,094,124
App. No.
15/146,182
Granted
Oct 9, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

An engineered plank material and a method for making the plank material are disclosed. The plank material includes a veneer that is made out of plant material, and includes a nonwoven fabric or fiberglass mesh adhered to an inward-facing portion of the veneer. The plank material includes an adhesive paper material including macromolecular glue, which is between the veneer and a third layer of the plank material, which is constructed from one of bamboo, wood, or paper. The plank material then includes a fourth layer which is an adhesive paper material including a micromolecular glue. These layers are compressed together at a high heat and a high pressure in order to form the plank material.

Claims (19)

1. A compressed layered plank material constructed with a plurality of layers, the plank material comprising:

a first layer of the plurality of layers, the first layer constructed from plant material and including one of a nonwoven fabric and a fiberglass mesh adhered to an inward-facing portion of the plant material in order to increase an impact resistance of the plank material;

a second layer of the plurality of layers, the second layer constructed from an adhesive paper material including a macromolecular glue;

a third layer of the plurality of layers, the third layer constructed from one of bamboo, wood, or paper; and

a fourth layer of the plurality of layers, the fourth layer constructed from an adhesive paper material including a micromolecular glue, wherein at least two of the plurality of layers are compressed together at a temperature of greater than 100° C. and a pressure of greater than 505 kPa, wherein

the macromolecular glue comprises 50-55% melamine, 35-40% plasticizer, and 3-5% formaldehyde, and the micromolecular glue comprises 70-82% melamine, 5-12% plasticizer, and 3-6% formaldehyde.

2. The compressed layered plank material of claim 1 , wherein the plant material of the first layer comprises bamboo and/or wood, and the first layer and the third layer are constructed from bamboo and/or wood that has been dry balanced and permeated with flame retardant material.

3. The compressed layered plank material of claim 1 , wherein the one of the bamboo, wood, or paper of the third layer is plant material that has been de-sugared and skimmed.

4. The compressed layered plank material of claim 3 , wherein the plant material of the third layer that has been de-sugared and skimmed is de-sugared and skimmed at a controlled steam pressure between 245 and 490 kPa.

5. The compressed layered plank material of claim 1 , wherein each layer of the plurality of layers is compressed together at a temperature of greater than 100° C. and a pressure of greater than 505 kPa.

6. The compressed layered plank material of claim 1 , wherein at least two of the plurality of layers are compressed together at a temperature of greater than 100° C. and less than 300° C., a pressure of greater than 505 kPa and less than 1680 kPa, and for a time of between three and six hours.

7. The compressed layered plank material of claim 1 , wherein the plant material of the first layer is a veneer with a thickness of at least 0.45 mm, the first layer includes the nonwoven fabric, and the nonwoven fabric is at least 20 mesh nonwoven fabric.

8. The compressed layered plank material of claim 1 , wherein the adhesive paper material of the second layer comprises 0.05 mm thick adhesive paper infused with the macromolecular glue.

9. The compressed layered plank material of claim 1 , wherein the third layer is a paper, and the paper comprises 0.2 mm thick kraft paper.

10. The compressed layered plank material of claim 1 , wherein the adhesive paper material of the fourth layer comprises 0.1 mm thick adhesive paper infused with the micromolecular glue.

11. The compressed layered plank material of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of layers further comprises successive layers of plant material and adhesive paper material, and the adhesive paper material includes micromolecular glue.

12. The compressed layered plank material of claim 11 , wherein the plant material of the successive layers has a thickness of 0.8 mm.

13. The compressed layered plank material of claim 11 , wherein the adhesive paper material of the successive layers has a thickness of 0.1 mm.

14. The compressed layered plank material of claim 1 , wherein there are at least two successive layers.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 18, 2026
From: WELLMADE FLOOR COVERINGS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
To: AHF IC, LLC
Reel/Frame 075682/0827 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE NAME OF RECEIVING PARTY FROM WELLMADE FLOOR COVERING INT'L INC. TO WELLMADE FLOOR COVERINGS INTERNATONAL, INC. PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 40080 FRAME 611. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST. Recorded May 18, 2026
From: WELLMADE FLOOR COVERING INT'L INC.
To: WELLMADE FLOOR COVERINGS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 075529/0797 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 20, 2016
From: CHEN, MING; CHEN, ZHU
To: WELLMADE FLOOR COVERING INT'L INC.
Reel/Frame 040080/0611 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20170321435A1 · Nov 9, 2017
Cited By (2)
US 12,234,655 US 12,442,196