Smart flooring system

Abstract

Some novel features pertain to a floor coupling structure that includes a first portion, a second portion extending from a first end of the first portion, the second portion for coupling to a first plank portion of a floor plank; and a third portion extending from a second end of the first portion, the third portion for coupling to a second plank portion of the floor plank. In some implementations, the first portion, the second portion and the third portion are a single piece. In some implementations, the floor coupling structure further includes a side protrusion and side slot, the side slot configured to couple to another protrusion of a first coupling structure, the side protrusion configured to coupled to another side slot of a second coupling structure. In some implementations, the second portion is a first coupling portion and the third portion is a second coupling portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a base portion configured to be positioned on a floor;   a first portion extending from a first end of the base portion, the first portion for coupling to a first plank portion of a floor plank; and   a second portion extending from a second end of the base portion, the second portion for coupling to a second plank portion of the floor plank.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion comprises a first end member and a second end member, wherein the second portion comprises a third end member and a fourth end member. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the first end member of the first portion is configured for coupling to the first plank portion of the floor plank. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the third end member of the second portion is configured for coupling to the second plank portion of the floor plank. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the first end member of the first portion is a living hinge. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the apparatus is configured for coupling to another apparatus. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the another apparatus comprises:
 another base portion;   another first portion extending from another first end of the another base portion, the another first portion is configured for coupling to another first plank portion of another floor plank; and   another second portion extending from another second end of the another base portion, the another second portion is configured for coupling to another second plank portion of the another floor plank.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the another first portion comprises another first end member and another second end member, wherein the another second portion comprises another third end member and another fourth end member. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the second end member of the first portion is configured for coupling to the another fourth end member of the another second portion. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion includes a male portion configured for coupling to the first plank portion of a floor plank, wherein the first plank portion is a first female portion, wherein the second portion includes another male portion configured for coupling to the second plank portion of the floor plank, wherein the second plank portion is a second female portion. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the base portion, the first portion and the second portion is a single piece. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the base portion, the first portion and the second portion are made of Polypropylene (“PP”). 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the floor plank is a wood floor plank. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the base portion comprises at least one channel. 
     
     
         15 . A floor coupling structure comprising:
 a first portion;   a second portion extending from a first end of the first portion, the second portion configured for coupling to a first plank portion of a floor plank; and   a third portion extending from a second end of the first portion, the third portion configured for coupling to a second plank portion of the floor plank.   
     
     
         16 . The floor coupling structure of  claim 15 , wherein the first portion, the second portion and the third portion are a single piece. 
     
     
         17 . The floor coupling structure of  claim 15  further comprising a side protrusion and side slot, the side slot configured to couple to another protrusion of a first coupling structure, the side protrusion configured to coupled to another side slot of a second coupling structure. 
     
     
         18 . The floor coupling structure of  claim 15 , wherein the first portion is a base portion configured to be positioned on a floor. 
     
     
         18 . The floor coupling structure of  claim 15 , wherein the first portion is a base portion configured to be positioned on a wall. 
     
     
         19 . The floor coupling structure of  claim 15 , wherein the second portion is a first coupling portion and the third portion is a second coupling portion. 
     
     
         20 . The floor coupling structure of  claim 19 , wherein the first coupling portion is a female coupling portion and the second coupling portion is a male coupling portion.