Plastic flooring with improved seal

Abstract

A floor or wall covering has blocks with mating strips having multiple ridges and multiple grooves in both mating members. Ridges and grooves can have different sizes and cross-sectional shapes from one another, and can mate in a manner that provides expansion gaps. Male/female positioning pairs can advantageously be included to facilitate alignment of the blocks during installation and use. Preferred floor blocks comprise a ribbed support portion that supports a working surface, and the ribbed support portion defines a plurality of cells that collectively reduce the weight of the block by a factor of at least 20% relative to corresponding block without such cells.

1 . A system for covering a surface, comprising: 
 a first block with an edge having a first edge strip along which are disposed at least two parallel ridges;    a second block with an edge having a second edge strip along which are disposed at least two parallel grooves, the grooves sized and dimensioned to mate with the ridges; and    the first and second blocks each having a thickness of at least 2 mm.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the first block has a second edge with a second edge strip with at least two parallel ridges, and third and fourth edges each having edge strips with at least two parallel grooves.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the first and second blocks comprise a polymeric material.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the first strip is at least 10 cm long.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein first and second of the at least two ridges are separated by at least 2 mm.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the first block is at least 5 mm thick.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a propositioned adhesive disposed upon at least one of the first and second strips.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the ridges includes a bulbous region.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the ridges extends downwardly at an angle slightly off normal.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a third ridge positioned between the two parallel grooves; and a third groove positioned between the at least two parallel ridges; wherein the third ridge is positioned to abut against the third groove as a barrier to moisture.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a three-channel interface between the first strip of the first block and first strip of the second block.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the first edge strip is at least 5% more massive than the second edge strip.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising gaps between the at least two ridges and the at least two grooves, allowing expansion room for the at least two ridges when the two edge strips snap together.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one positioning pair that includes a least one of a locator, slot, boss, and ring.  
   
   
       15 . A floor block comprising a ribbed support portion that supports a working surface, the ribbed support portion defining a plurality of cells that collectively reduce the weight of the block by a factor of at least 20% relative to corresponding block without such cells.  
   
   
       16 . The block of  claim 15 , wherein the factor is at least 30%.  
   
   
       17 . The block of  claim 15 , wherein the factor is at least 40%.  
   
   
       18 . The block of  claim 15 , wherein the ribbed support portion defines at least 100 cells.  
   
   
       19 . The block of  claim 15 , wherein the ribbed support portion defines at least 200 cells.  
   
   
       20 . The block of  claim 15 , wherein the ribbed support portion defines at least 350 cells.