IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,234,653
Granted Patent B2
US 12,234,653 · App. 17/969,347 · Granted Feb 25, 2025

Linkable tiles for covering a surface

Inventors: Jeremy Britton (Riverside, CA); Jacob Olsson (Riverside, CA); Domanic Chu (Alhambra, CA)
E04F15/02005E04F15/02038E04F15/04E04F15/105E04F2201/0511E04F2201/06
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,234,653
App. No.
17/969,347
Granted
Feb 25, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Various embodiments of tiles or devices that are used to create a structure used to cover a floor other surface are described. Preferred tiles or devices comprise one or more magnetized surfaces that may comprise one or more magnets or ferrous material. The magnetized surfaces can be used to magnetically couple adjacent tiles or devices to form the flooring or other structure. In some embodiments, the tiles or device may comprise one or more routed edges.

Claims (22)

1. A device used to create a structure covering a floor or other surface, comprising:

a first piece comprising a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the bottom surface comprises a magnetized first portion and a non-magnetized second portion;

a second piece comprising a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the top surface comprises a magnetized portion and a non-magnetized second portion; and

wherein the first piece and the second piece are permanently affixed to one another in an offset manner, such that the first piece and the second piece do not entirely overlap; and

wherein that the non-magnetized second portion of the bottom surface of the first piece is attached to the non-magnetized second portion of the top surface of the second piece.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the magnetized portion of the first piece has a first polarity and the magnetized portion of the second piece has a second polarity that is opposite the first polarity.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first piece comprises first, second, third and fourth sides, wherein the first and second sides are disposed opposite of each other, and the third and fourth sides are disposed opposite of each other and disposed between the first and second sides, and wherein the second piece comprises first, second, third and fourth sides, wherein the first and second sides are disposed opposite of each other, and the third and fourth sides are disposed opposite of each other and disposed between the first and second sides.

4. The device of claim 3 , wherein the first piece and the second piece each comprises an elongated rectangular shape.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first piece is disposed on top of the second piece, such that the first piece only partially covers the second piece.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the magnetized portion of the first piece comprises a set of magnets or ferrous material.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the magnetized portion of the second piece comprises a set of magnets or ferrous material.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second pieces comprises an engineered composite material or solid wood.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second pieces comprises a plurality of layers compressed together to form a composite material, and wherein the first and second pieces collectively form a flooring plank comprising a luxury vinyl flooring piece configured to magnetically interlock with adjacent devices to create the structure.

10. The device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the sides of the first piece comprises a routed edge.

11. The device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the sides of the first piece comprises a set of magnets.

12. A flooring structure of interconnected devices for covering a floor, comprising:

a first device comprising the device of claim 1 ;

a second device comprising the device of claim 1 ; and

wherein the magnetized portion of the second piece of the first device magnetically couples with the magnetized portion of the first piece of the second device, when the first and second devices are adjacent to one another.

13. The flooring structure of claim 12 , further comprising:

a third device comprising the device of claim 1 ; and

wherein the magnetized portion of the first piece of the first device magnetically couples with the magnetized portion of the second piece of the third device, when the first and third devices are adjacent to one another.

Continuity (4)
Continuation In Part 16879659 · May 20, 2020
Continuation In Part 16736371 · Jan 7, 2020
Provisional Application 62936470 · Nov 16, 2019
Related Publication 20230045702A1 · Feb 9, 2023
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