Patterned heat welding rod for seaming resilient flooring

Abstract

Vinyl heat welding rod for seam sealing vinyl resilient flooring, whether in sheet or tile form, are used to obtain a homogeneous, monolithic appearing surface. This rod is specifically made to duplicate the appearance of the flooring material. For a chip-image flooring structure, a sheet of multicolored chips having a similar, but different formulation from that of the flooring material is prepared and the sheet is cut into suitable strips, heat pressed in a rod mold, end adhered or further molded to form the desired length, and used as a vinyl heat welding rod for sealing seams in flooring. Thus, the chip pattern is evident in the seam area and does not appear different when compared to the adjacent surface.

We claim: 
     
       1. A thermoplastic welding rod .Iadd.consisting essentially of thermoplastic particles, the particles .Iaddend.comprising a first plurality of thermoplastic particles and a second plurality of thermoplastic particles, the second plurality of thermoplastic particles having a color different than the color of the first plurality of thermoplastic particles, the first and second plurality of thermoplastic particles comprising about 18 to about 31 weight percent of plasticizer. 
     
     
       2. The welding rod of claim 1 wherein the particles are chips comprising thermoplastic material. 
     
     
       3. The welding rod of claim 1 wherein the particles are granules comprising thermoplastic material. 
     
     
       4. The welding rod of claim 1 wherein the particles comprise no greater than 20% by weight of filler. 
     
     
       5. The welding rod of claim 4 wherein the particles comprise no greater than 10% by weight of filler. 
     
     
       6. The welding rod of claim 4 wherein the filler is no greater in size than U.S. No. 50 mesh. 
     
     
       7. The welding rod of claim 6 wherein the filler is no less in size than U.S. No. 325 mesh. 
     
     
       8. The welding rod of claim 1 wherein the particles have a T g  of no greater than 30° F. 
     
     
       9. The welding rod of claim 8 wherein the particles have a T g  of no greater than 25° F. 
     
     
       10. The welding rod of claim 9 wherein the particles have a T g  of no greater than 22° F. 
     
     
       11. The welding rod of claim 1 wherein the rod has a half-round cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
       12. The welding rod of claim 1 wherein the first and second pluralities of chips comprise consolidated chips. 
     
     
       13. The welding rod of claim 12 wherein the rod is a molded rod. 
     
     
       14. The welding rod of claim 13 wherein the rod comprises a plurality of rods spliced end-to-end. 
     
     
       15. A thermoplastic welding rod .Iadd.consisting essentially of thermoplastic particles, the particles .Iaddend.comprising a first plurality of thermoplastic particles and a second plurality of thermoplastic particles, the second plurality of thermoplastic particles having a color different than the color of the first plurality of thermoplastic particles, the thermomlastic particles comprising an organic polymer, the polymer consisting essentially of polyvinyl chloride. 
     
     
       16. A surface covering comprising two thermoplastic sheets welded together with a thermoplastic welding rod, the welding rod .Iadd.consisting essentially of thermoplastic particles, the particles .Iaddend.comprising a first plurality of thermoplastic particies and a second plurality of thermoplastic particles, the second plurality of thermoplastic particles having a color different than the color of the first plurality of thermoplastic particles. 
     
     
       17. The surface covering of claim 16 wherein the welding rod is formed by the first and second pluralities of thermoplastic particles being consolidated to form an elongated element having a half-round cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
       18. The surface covering of claim 17 wherein the surface covering is a floor covering. 
     
     
       19. The welding rod of claim 1 wherein the plasticizer is selected from the group consisting of dioctyl adipate, butyl cyclohexyl phthalate, tri(butoxyethyl) phosphate, trioctyl phosphate, 2-ethylhexyl diphenyl phosphate, dibutyl phthalate, diisobutyl adipate, epoxidized di(2-ethylhexyl) tetrahydrophthalate, di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, diisooctyl phthalate, dioctyl adipate, diisononyl phthalate, di(2-ethylhexyl) hexahydrophthalate, n-octyl,n-decyl phthalate, tricresyl phosphate, butyl benzyl phthalate, dicapryl phthalate, di(3,5,5-trimethylhexyl) phthalate, diisodecyl phthalate, di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate, butyl epoxy stearate, epoxidized soya oil, epoxidized octyl tallate, dimethyl phthalate, hexyl epoxy stearate, cresyl diphenyl phosphate, di(2-ethylhexyl) isophthalate, n-octyl,n-decyl adipate, di(2-ethylhexyl) azelate, epoxidized octyl oleate, di(2-ethylhexyl) sebacate, tetraethylene glycol/di(2-ethylhexoate), diisodecyl adipate, triethylene glycol/di (2ethylhexoate), and mixtures thereof.