System, method, and apparatus for magnetic surface coverings

Abstract

The present invention pertains to the art of floor coverings, and, more particularly to an apparatus for use in securing floor covering units to an underlay and a method of manufacturing said floor covering units and said underlay. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus, method, and method of manufacturing magnetized floor covering units and magnetized underlays for securing magnetized floor covering units.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 ) A system for manufacturing an underlayment, the system comprising:
 a hopper adapted to store a binding compound, the binding compound having an isotropic metallic component;   an outlet adapted to dispense the binding compound in a thin sheet;   a squeegee adapted to evenly distribute the binding compound; and   an oven adapted to heat the binding compound to set the binding compound forming an underlayment.   
     
     
         2 ) The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises a magnetizer adapted to magnetize the metallic component in the binding material forming a magnetic underlayment. 
     
     
         3 ) A system for manufacturing a magnetically receptive underlayment, the system comprising:
 a hopper adapted to store a binding compound, the binding compound having a magnetically receptive component;   a set of nozzles adapted to dispense the binding compound in a single layer;   a set of rollers adapted to evenly distribute and compress the binding compound; and   a heating element adapted to heat the binding compound to set the binding compound forming a magnetically receptive underlayment.   
     
     
         4 ) A system for manufacturing a calendered isotropic underlay, the system comprising:
 a polymer mixture and a metallic compound mixture;   a blender adapted to mix the polymer mixture and a metallic compound mixture to form an underlayment mixture;   a fluxer adapted to heat the underlayment mixture;   a set of forming rollers adapted to form the underlayment mixture into an underlayment sheet of a desired thickness; and   a final set of rollers adapted to form a surface finish on the underlayment sheet.   
     
     
         5 ) The system of  claim 3 , further comprising a pulse magnetizer adapted to isotropically magnetize the underlayment sheet.