IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,448,778
Granted Patent B2
US 12,448,778 · App. 17/934,988 · Granted Oct 21, 2025

Luxury vinyl plank stair noses and other moldings

Inventor: Charles Paul Iannacone, III (Apache Junction, AZ)
Assignee: Finished Edge Technology LLC
E04F11/175E04F11/166
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,448,778
App. No.
17/934,988
Granted
Oct 21, 2025
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 (24)

1. A stair nose molding, comprising:

a laminate flooring plank including,

a wood base,

an image layer disposed on the wood base,

a wear layer disposed over the image layer, wherein the image layer and wear layer are fused to the wood base using a lamination process,

a first groove formed in the laminate flooring plank, wherein the first groove includes a first triangular portion of the laminate flooring plank remaining in the bottom of the first groove,

a second groove formed in the laminate flooring plank parallel to the first groove, wherein the second groove includes a second triangular portion of the laminate flooring plank remaining in the bottom of the second groove, and wherein a distance between the first groove and second groove is configured to be greater than a thickness of a stair tread; and

an adhesive disposed in the first groove, wherein the laminate flooring plank is folded to an approximately 90-degree angle at the first groove.

2. The stair nose molding of claim 1 , wherein a first surface of the laminate flooring plank on a first side of the first groove is oriented parallel to a second surface of the laminate flooring plank on a second side of the first groove.

3. The stair nose molding of claim 1 , wherein a first surface of the laminate flooring plank is oriented parallel to a surface of the first triangular portion.

4. The stair nose molding of claim 1 , wherein the laminate flooring plank includes an inflexible base material and an image layer disposed over the inflexible base material.

5. The stair nose molding of claim 1 , wherein the first groove extends completely through the inflexible base material without extending completely through the image layer.

6. The stair nose molding of claim 5 , wherein the first groove extends completely through the inflexible base material on two sides of the first triangular portion.

7. The stair nose molding of claim 1 , further including a stair nose with a first portion of the laminate flooring plank disposed on a top surface of the stair nose and a second portion of the laminate flooring plank disposed under the stair nose.

8. A molding, comprising:

a piece of flooring;

a first groove formed in the piece of flooring, wherein a first triangular portion of the piece of flooring remains in the first groove; and

a second groove formed in the piece of flooring parallel to the first groove, wherein a second triangular portion of the piece of flooring remains in the second groove, and wherein a distance between the first groove and second groove is configured to be greater than a thickness of a stair tread.

9. The molding of claim 8 , wherein the piece of flooring is folded across the first groove and second groove.

10. The molding of claim 8 , wherein a first surface of the piece of flooring on a first side of the first groove is glued to a second surface of the piece of flooring on a second side of the first groove.

11. The molding of claim 8 , wherein a first surface of the piece of flooring is glued to a surface of the first triangular portion.

12. The molding of claim 8 , wherein the piece of flooring includes an inflexible base material and an image layer disposed over the inflexible base material.

13. The molding of claim 12 , wherein the first groove extends completely through the inflexible base material without extending completely through the image layer.

14. The molding of claim 13 , wherein the first groove extends completely through the inflexible base material on two sides of the first triangular portion.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 23, 2022
From: IANNACONE, CHARLES PAUL, III
To: FINISHED EDGE TECHNOLOGY LLC
Reel/Frame 061199/0370 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation In Part 17655898 · Mar 22, 2022
Continuation In Part 17336925 · Jun 2, 2021
Provisional Application 63034204 · Jun 3, 2020
Related Publication 20230020659A1 · Jan 19, 2023
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Cited By (1)
US 1,140,104