Multipanel floor system with sealing elements

Abstract

A disengageable interconnecting floor system comprises two or more flooring panels, a connector and a sealant. Each flooring panel comprises a top wear surface and a bottom surface for contact with a support structure and at least two edges having identical recesses formed therein for receipt of an extension from a connector. The connector comprises a base and an extension extending vertically from the base. The extension is shaped to be received in a disengageable connected fashion into at least one recess of at least one panel. Sealant is disposed on the flooring panel, the connector, or both. The invention also includes flooring panels and sealants for use in a disengageable interconnecting floor system, and methods for sealing laminate flooring panels joined by connectors.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A disengageable interconnecting floor system comprising: 
 two or more flooring panels, each flooring panel comprising a top wear surface and a bottom surface for contact with a support structure, said panel further comprising at least two edges having identical recesses formed therein for receipt of an extension from a connector;    at least one connector comprising a base and an extension extending vertically from the base, said extension shaped to be received in a disengageable connected fashion into at least one recess of said at least one panel; and    at least one sealant, said sealant disposed on said flooring panel or said connector.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said sealant comprises a foamed elastomer cord.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said cord is extruded and further comprises a skin layer.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said cord further comprises a pressure sensitive adhesive to hold the cord in place.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said sealant comprises a material selected from the group consisting of an elastomer cord, a flexible cord, a film, a tape, a wax, a paste, or a liquid which solidifies with time.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said sealant is attached to the flooring panel or the connector during installation of a floor.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said sealant is disposed in said recess of said flooring panel.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said edges of said flooring panel each comprise an upper portion adjacent the top wear surface, and said sealant is disposed on said upper portion.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the sealant comprises a material selected from the group consisting of an elastomer cord, a flexible cord, a film, a tape, a wax, a paste, or a liquid which solidifies with time.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said extension comprises a top surface and said sealant is disposed on said top surface of said extension.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said extension comprises a vertical support and two horizontal flanges each having a distal end, and said sealant is disposed on said distal end of at least one of said flanges.  
     
     
         12 . A flooring panel for use in a disengageable interconnecting floor system comprising: 
 a top wear surface and a bottom surface for contact with a support structure, said panel further comprising at least two edges, said edges each having an identical recess formed therein for receipt of an extension from a connector and an upper portion adjacent said top wear surface; and    at least one sealant, said sealant disposed in said recess of said flooring panel or on said upper portion.    
     
     
         13 . The flooring panel of  claim 12 , wherein said sealant comprises an extruded foamed elastomer cord.  
     
     
         14 . The flooring panel of  claim 13 , wherein said cord further comprises a pressure sensitive adhesive to hold the cord in place.  
     
     
         15 . The flooring panel of  claim 12 , wherein said flooring panel comprises at least three edges having identical recesses formed therein for receipt of the extension from the connector.  
     
     
         16 . The flooring panel of  claim 12 , wherein said sealant comprises a material selected from the group consisting of an elastomer cord, a flexible cord, a film, a tape, a wax, a paste, or a liquid which solidifies with time.  
     
     
         17 . The flooring panel of  claim 12 , wherein said sealant is disposed on said upper portion.  
     
     
         18 . A method for sealing laminate flooring panels joined by connectors comprising: 
 providing at least two flooring panels, said panels each having a top wear surface and a bottom surface for contact with a support structure, said panels each further comprising an edge having a recess formed therein and an upper portion adjacent the top wear surface;    providing a connector having a base and an extension attached to the base, said extension having a mating member for mating with said recess in said flooring panel; and    disposing a sealant in said recess, on said upper portion, or on said mating member.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said sealant comprises a foamed elastomer cord.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said sealant is disposed in said recess of said flooring panel.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said sealant is disposed on said upper portion of said edge of said flooring panel.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said sealant is disposed on said mating member of said extension.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said cord is extruded and further comprises a skin layer.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said cord comprises a pressure sensitive adhesive to hold the cord in place.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said cord is disposed on said flooring panel or said connector during installation of the floor.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said sealant comprises a material selected from the group consisting of an elastomer cord, a flexible cord, a film, a tape, a wax, a paste, or a liquid which solidifies with time.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said sealant comprises a material selected from the group consisting of an elastomer cord, a flexible cord, a film, a tape, a wax, a paste, or a liquid which solidifies with time.  
     
     
         28 . A sealant for sealing edges of flooring panels of a disengageable flooring system comprising a cord, said cord comprising an extruded foamed elastomer cord having an exterior surface and a pressure sensitive adhesive disposed on at least a portion of said exterior surface.  
     
     
         29 . The sealant of  claim 28 , wherein said edges of said flooring panels have a first color, and said sealant has at least one second color to visibly distinguish it from said flooring panels.