Grout member for modular flooring assemblies

Abstract

Provided is a grout member for a modular floor. The grout member includes a core having a wedge shape, wherein the core consists of a horizontal strut interconnecting two vertical supports. A flange extends from each vertical support to position and secure the grout member in position The core supports a surface section which is oriented toward the user. The modular floor is as assembled by interconnecting modular flooring assemblies that include a flooring component, such as tile, wood or other materials commonly used in flooring applications, and subsequently inserted grout members in the gaps formed by the components

1 . A grout member, comprising:
 a core having a horizontal strut interconnecting a first vertical support and a second vertical support;   a surface section interfaced with the horizontal strut;   a first flange extending outward from the first vertical support; and   a second flange extending outward from the second vertical support   wherein the first flange and the second flange each interface with a corresponding modular flooring component to secure the grout member in position.   
   
   
       2 . The grout member of  claim 1 , wherein the first flange and the second flange are resiliently deformable. 
   
   
       3 . The grout member of  claim 1 , wherein the surface section is a polypropylene thermal elastomer. 
   
   
       4 . The grout member of  claim 3 , wherein the surface section is a polypropylene thermal elastomer having a glass content in the range of 3 to 10 percent. 
   
   
       5 . The grout member of  claim 1 , wherein the core is a first material, the first and the second flanges are a second material, and the surface section is a third material. 
   
   
       6 . The grout member of  claim 5 , wherein the hardness of the core material is greater than the hardness of the flange material and the surface section material. 
   
   
       7 . The grout member of  claim 1 , wherein the first flange extends outward from a base of the first vertical support, and further wherein the second flange extends outward from a base of the second vertical support. 
   
   
       8 . The grout member of  claim 1 , wherein the surface section comprises:
 a first extended flap; and   a second extended flap.   
   
   
       9 . The grout member of  claim 1 , wherein the first flange and the second flange extend continuously along an entire length of the grout member. 
   
   
       10 . The grout member of  claim 1 , wherein the first flange and the second flange are discontinuous. 
   
   
       11 . The grout member of  claim 1 , wherein the member is extruded. 
   
   
       12 . The grout member of  claim 1 , wherein the first flange and the second flange are tapered. 
   
   
       13 . A grout member, comprising:
 a wedge shaped core having a horizontal strut interconnecting a first vertical support and a second vertical support;   a surface section interfaced with the horizontal shut;   a first resiliently deformable flange extending outward from the first vertical support; and   a second resiliently deformable flange extending outward from the second vertical support   wherein each of the core, the resiliently deformable flanges, and the surface section are formed from a different material.   
   
   
       14 . The grout of  claim 13 , wherein the core is made of a first material that is harder than both a second material forming the flanges and a third material forming the surface section. 
   
   
       15 . A method of'sealing, with removable grout, a modular floor assembly, comprising:
 determining a pattern of required extended and truncated, removable grout members;   cutting each removable grout member according to the pattern;   inserting, in a first gap formed by at least four modular floor components, an extended, removable grout member;   inserting, in a second gap formed by the at least four modular floor components, a first truncated, removable grout member;   inserting in the second gap a second truncated, removable grout member; and   verifying a press fit of each inserted extended and truncated, removable grout member.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the pattern of one extended and two truncated removable grout members repeats. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein a surface section of each of the extended and truncated grout members is a polypropylene thermal elastomer. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the surface section of each of the extended and truncated grout members is a polypropylene thermal elastomer having a glass content in the range of 3 to 10 percent. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein a core of each grout member is a first material, a first and a second flange of each grout member is a second material, and a surface section of each grout member is a third material. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the hardness of the core material is greater than the hardness of the flange material and the surface section material.