Floorboard with compression nub

Abstract

A wood floor system comprises a plurality of parallel rows ( 10 a , 10 b . . . 10 z ) of floorboards ( 10 ) laid end-to-end, and each of the floorboards ( 10 ) includes a compression nub ( 20 ) extending along a side surface ( 13 ) thereof, adjacent the top surface ( ). These compression nubs ( 20 ) affirmatively engage an opposing side surface ( 14 ) of an adjacent floorboard row ( 10 a ), thereby sealing, or isolating, the top surface of the floor from the side surfaces ( 13, 14 ) of the floorboard rows ( 10 a , 10 b . . . 10 z ). This uniformly distributes expansion and contraction forces throughout the floor, due to uniform spacing between the floorboard rows ( 10 a , 10 b . . . 10 z ). The isolation of the floorboard upper surface from the side surfaces ( 13, 14 ) also prevents undesired downward migration or flow of liquid finishing solution ( 28 ), which can have serious adverse affects for a wood floor. The invention reduces the total volume of finishing solution necessary for finishing the floor. It also reduces “overwood” during floor installation, and helps to assure uniform and consistent engagement of tongues ( 17 ) and grooves ( 16 ) along the length of the floorboard rows ( 10 a , 10 b . . . 10 z ).

We claim:  
     
         1 . A floor comprising: 
 a plurality of rows ( 10   a ,  10   b  . . .  10   z ) of side by side floorboards ( 10 ) which are interconnected along longitudinal edges by a plurality of tongue ( 17 ) and groove ( 16 ) connections, the floorboards ( 10 ) having upper surfaces defining a floor surface, at least some of the tongue ( 17 ) and groove ( 16 ) connections including: 
 a tongue ( 17 ) extending longitudinally along a first edge ( 14 ) of a first floorboard ( 10   a ) and a groove extending along an opposing second edge ( 13 ) of a second floorboard ( 10   b ), the tongue ( 17 ) sized to be received within the groove ( 16 ), the first ( 14 ) and second ( 13 ) edges being generally vertical along upper portions thereof located above the tongue and groove connection,  
 wherein one of the first ( 14 ) and second ( 13 ) edges has an integral compression ridge ( 20 ) protruding outwardly from the upper portion thereof and extending uninterrupted along the longitudinal edge of said one of the first ( 14 ) and second ( 13 ) edges, the compression ridge ( 20 ) contacting the other of the first ( 14 ) and second ( 13 ) edges along the tongue ( 17 ) and groove ( 16 ) connection, whereby contact between the first ( 10   a ) and second ( 10   b ) floorboards along the compression ridge ( 20 ) isolates the tongue ( 17 ) and groove ( 16 ) connection from the floor surface above.  
   
     
     
         2 . The floor of  claim 1  wherein the compression nub ( 20 ) of each of the floorboards ( 12 ) is located nearer the top surface than the tongue ( 17 ) or groove ( 16 ).  
     
     
         3 . The floor of  claim 1  wherein the compression nub ( 20 ) of each of the floorboards ( 10 ) is semi-circular in transverse cross-sectional shape and has a radius in the range of about 6 to 10 thousandths.  
     
     
         4 . The floor of  claim 1  wherein a top end of the compression nub ( 20 ) for each of the floorboards ( 10 ) is in the range of about 20-50 thousandths from the top surface.  
     
     
         5 . The floor of  claim 1  and further including at least one additional compression nub ( 20   a ) residing below said compression nub ( 20 ) for each of the floorboards ( 10 ).  
     
     
         6 . A floorboard ( 10 ) comprising: 
 an elongated strip ( 10 ) having top and bottom surfaces and first ( 14 ) and second ( 13 ) side surfaces; and    a compression nub ( 20 ) protruding outwardly from one of the first ( 14 ) and second ( 13 ) side surfaces along substantially the entire length of the strip ( 10 ), the compression nub ( 20 ) located proximate the top surface, the first ( 14 ) and second ( 13 ) surfaces being oriented parallel with each other between the compression nub ( 20 ) and the top surface.    
     
     
         7 . The floorboard ( 10 ) of  claim 6  wherein the first ( 14 ) and second ( 13 ) surfaces include a longitudinally extending tongue ( 17 ) and a complementary-shaped longitudinally extending tongue ( 16 ), the compression nub ( 20 ) located nearer the top surface than the tongue ( 17 ) or groove ( 16 ).  
     
     
         8 . The floorboard ( 10 ) of  claim 6  wherein the compression nub ( 20 ) is semi-circular in transverse cross-sectional shape and has a radius in the range of about 6 to 10 thousandths.  
     
     
         9 . The floorboard ( 10 ) of  claim 6  wherein a top end of the compression nub ( 20 ) is in the range of about 20-50 thousandths from the top surface.  
     
     
         10 . The floorboard ( 10 ) of  claim 6  and further including at least one additional compression nub ( 20   a ) residing below said compression nub ( 20 ).  
     
     
         11 . A floor system comprising a plurality of parallel rows ( 10   a ,  10   b  . . .  10   z ) of floorboards ( 10 ), wherein the floorboards ( 10 ) are described by  claim 6 .  
     
     
         12 . A floor system of a plurality of floor sections ( 105 ) arranged in a desired pattern over a base, each of the floor sections ( 105 ) including a substructure ( 118 ) and a plurality of parallel rows ( 10   a ,  10   b  . . .  10   z ) of floorboards secured to the substructure ( 118 ), the floorboards being described by  claim 6 .  
     
     
         13 . A floor system of a plurality of floor sections ( 105 ) arranged in a desired pattern over a base, each of the floor sections ( 105 ) including a substructure ( 118 ) and a plurality of parallel rows ( 10   a ,  10   b  . . .  10   z ) of floorboards secured to the substructure ( 118 ), the floorboards being described by claim  7 .