CN101177970A - Floor tile - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a floor tile which is a laminate of two layers of flexible plastic sheet material laminated together in offset relationship to define an offset edge portion for each layer. Each offset edge portion has an adhesive coated surface facing opposite. A foam layer and/or a fiberglass ply layer may also be included in the laminate structure of the tile. The floor tile can conform to the surface contour of the floor base. The bottom layer of the tiles, whether plastic or foam plies, conforms to the surface irregularities of the floor base. A one-piece anti-adhesive packaging device covers the oppositely facing adhesive-coated surfaces of the offset edge portions.

Description

Floor tile

Cross References to Related Applications

This application is a continuation-in-part of Application Serial No. 11/321,015 filed December 29,2005.

technical field

The present invention relates to a floor tile that can be mounted to a floor substrate rather than being bonded to it, and more particularly to a flexible floor tile that can be secured to similar adjacent tiles on a floor substrate and conform to the surface contours and surface irregularities of the floor substrate.

Background technique

US Patent 1,978,075 to Butterworth discloses a block floor having a tongue and groove engagement system for securing like blocks side by side. Since the blocks are made of wood, they are generally rigid rather than flexible and do not readily conform to the surface contours and surface irregularities of the floor substrate. The blocks are also secured to the floor substrate using mastic or nails.

US Patent 2,914,815 to Alexander shows an interlocking floor system in which individual blocks have offset base members formed from plywood. The plywood base member is laminated to the blocks and allows similar blocks to be secured in a side-by-side configuration. Plywood base members are also generally rigid rather than flexible. The tiles therefore do not readily conform to the surface contours and surface irregularities of the floor substrate.

US Patent 3,554,850 to Kuhle shows a parquet floor with protruding parts for securing similar parquet sections side by side. The parquet floor is generally rigid rather than flexible and therefore does not readily follow the surface contours and surface irregularities of the floor substrate.

Contents of the invention

The present invention provides such a floor tile, which comprises:

a) a first layer made of flexible plastic sheet material having a first square shape, the first layer has at least two side edges, a first upper surface with a pattern and a first lower surface, said the patterned first upper surface forms the top surface of said floor tile,

b) a second layer made of flexible plastic sheet material having a second square shape, the second layer having at least two side edges, a second upper surface and a second lower surface,

c) said first and second layers are laminated together in offset relationship, and wherein said first lower surface of said first layer contacts said second upper surface of said second layer,

d) the offset lamination of the first and second layers defines a first offset edge portion of the first layer and a second offset edge portion of the second layer, the first layer of the a first edge portion extends beyond at least one side edge of said second layer, said second edge portion of said second layer extends beyond at least one side edge of said first layer,

e) said first offset edge portion has a first edge lower surface that is part of said first lower surface of said first layer, said second offset edge portion has a second an edge upper surface, the second edge upper surface being part of said second upper surface of said second layer, said first edge lower surface and said second edge upper surface having an exposed adhesive coating,

f) said first and second layers have respective predetermined thicknesses such that the laminate of said first and second layers has a flexibility that allows said laminate to conform to the surface contours of a flooring substrate, said floor tiles are laid on said floor substrate,

g) the plastic sheet of the second layer has yield properties to surface irregularities of the floor substrate such that the second layer conforms to surface irregularities of the floor substrate when laid in contact on the floor substrate, The floor tiles are laid on the floor substrate.

In said floor tile, said first and second square shapes may be congruent squares. Where they are congruent squares, said first offset edge portion extends beyond two intersecting side edges of said second layer so that said first offset edge portion is L-shaped, and/or The second offset edge portion extends beyond two intersecting side edges of the first layer such that the second offset edge portion is L-shaped.

Said floor tiles may comprise a third layer made of a flexible foam material having a third square shape, said third layer being bonded to said second lower surface of said second layer and coherent to said second layer. layers are coextensive such that said second and third layers have a common perimeter, said foam material of said third layer has a predetermined thickness and yield to surface irregularities of the flooring substrate such that said third layer can The floor tiles are laid on the floor substrate to conform to the surface contour of the floor substrate, and the third layer can conform to the surface irregularities of the floor substrate when laid in contact on the floor substrate.

The floor tiles may also include a one-piece release cover for covering the adhesive-coated first edge lower surface of the first offset edge portion and the second offset edge portion. The upper surface of the adhesive-coated second edge of the shifted edge portion, the release cover comprises a continuous strip of release material that is placed on the adhesive-coated first edge. extending on the lower surface of the edge and on the upper surface of said second edge so as to cover the exposed adhesive coating of said first and second offset edge portions, whereby said sheet of release material is continuous A strip covers the exposed adhesive-coated surfaces of the first and second edge portions.

The present invention also provides another floor tile, which comprises:

a) a first layer made of plastic sheet material having a first square shape, the first layer having at least two side edges, a first upper surface and a first lower surface,

b) a second layer made of plastic sheet material having a second square shape, the second layer having at least two side edges, a second upper surface and a second lower surface,

c) said first and second layers are laminated together in offset relationship, and wherein said first lower surface of said first layer contacts said second upper surface of said second layer,

d) the offset lamination of the first and second layers defines a first offset edge portion of the first layer and a second offset edge portion of the second layer, the first layer of the a first edge portion extends beyond at least one side edge of said second layer, said second edge portion of said second layer extends beyond at least one side edge of said first layer,

e) said first offset edge portion has a first edge lower surface that is part of said first lower surface of said first layer, said second offset edge portion has a second an edge upper surface, the second edge upper surface being part of said second upper surface of said second layer, said first edge lower surface and said second edge upper surface having an exposed adhesive coating,

f) a release cover for covering the adhesive-coated first edge lower surface of said first offset edge portion and the adhesive-coated adhesive of said second offset edge portion. a second edge upper surface of the adhesive, the release cover comprising a continuous strip of release material extending over the exposed adhesive coating on the lower surface of the first edge and Extending on said second edge upper surface so as to cover the exposed adhesive coating of said first and second offset edge portions, whereby said one continuous strip of release material covers said first The exposed adhesive-coated surfaces of the first and second edge portions.

For said other floor tile, said covering may be a one-piece member.

The invention also proposes a method of packaging floor tiles comprising a laminate of two layers made of plastic sheet material having the same square shape, the two layers being laminated in offset relationship together so as to define an offset edge portion for each layer such that the offset edge portion of each layer extends beyond at least two side edges of the other layer, each offset edge portion having oppositely facing coatings A surface having adhesive, said method comprising: providing a continuous strip of flexible release material by abutting a first portion of the release covering material into adhesive contact with one of said offset edge portions coating and contacting the second portion of the release covering material to the adhesive-coated surface of the other of the offset edge portions to cover the exposed adhesive-coated surfaces of the two offset edge portions surface.

Description of drawings

In the attached picture:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a floor tile embodying one embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of an assembled version of the floor tiles of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view along line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view along line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the floor tile shown in Fig. 4 on the floor substrate;

Figure 6 shows a perspective view of the flexibility properties of the floor tiles;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a floor tile embodying another embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of an assembled version of the floor tiles of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view along line 9-9 of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a sectional view along line 10-10 of Figure 8;

Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view of the floor tile shown in Figure 10 on a floor substrate;

12-14 are perspective views of a packaging system for floor tiles embodying another embodiment of the present invention before, during and after installation on the floor tiles;

Figure 15 is a top view of the packaging device of the packaging system; and

Figure 16 is a perspective view of a floor tile embodying yet another embodiment of the present invention.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Detailed ways

Referring to the drawings, a floor tile embodying a preferred embodiment of the present invention is generally indicated at 10 in FIG. 1 .

The floor tile 10 is a laminate of a top layer 14 of flexible plastic sheet material, a middle layer 16 of flexible plastic sheet material and a bottom layer 18 of flexible foam material. All of these layers 14, 16 and 18 have the same square size and shape.

The top layer 14 and middle layer 16 are preferably formed from a synthetic plastic material, preferably vinyl plastic such as polyvinyl chloride sheet. The upper surface 24 of the top layer 14 has a pattern similar to natural wood, eg, synthetic wood grain (Fig. 6). The bottom layer 18 is formed from a soft flexible foam material such as polyurethane foam.

The middle plastic layer 16 and the bottom foam layer 18 are laminated together such that they are coextensive and have a common perimeter. But the top plastic layer 14 and the middle plastic layer 16 are laminated such that the top layer 14 is offset relative to the middle layer 16 .

In this offset layer structure, the side edge 26 ( FIG. 1 ) of the top layer 14 extends beyond the corresponding side edge 32 of the middle layer 16 by an offset "a", while the other side edge of the top layer 14 perpendicular to the side edge 26 34 extend beyond respective side edges 40 of the middle layer 16 by an offset amount “a” so as to define an L-shaped offset edge section 42 of the top layer 14 .

Also in this offset layer structure, the side edge 46 (FIG. 1) of the middle layer 16 extends beyond the corresponding side edge 48 of the top layer 14 by an offset "a", while the other side edge 46 of the middle layer 16 is perpendicular to the side edge 46. The side edges 50 extend beyond corresponding side edges 56 of the top layer 14 by an offset amount “a” so as to define an L-shaped offset edge section 58 of the middle layer 16 .

The L-shaped edge section 42 of the top layer 14 and the L-shaped edge section 58 of the middle layer 16 have the same size and shape.

A suitable adhesive or bonding composition for laminating together the top plastic layer 14 and the middle plastic layer 16 has the following components in amounts of approximately:

a) 35% SIS (styrene-isoprene-styrene elastomer)

b) 54.5% petroleum resin

c) 10% mineral oil

d) 0.05% of antioxidant BHT (2,6-di-tert-butyl-p-cresol).

Adhesive material for the layers 14 and 16 is provided on the lower surface 64 of the top plastic layer 14 ( FIG. 3 ) and the upper surface 66 of the middle plastic layer 16 .

The same adhesive material applied to lower surface 64 and upper surface 66 for laminating top plastic layer 14 and middle plastic layer 16 can also be used to laminate bottom foam layer 18 to middle plastic layer 16 .

The L-shaped edge section 42 has a downwardly facing bonding surface 72 ( FIG. 1 ), which is part of the lower surface 64 of the top layer 14 ( FIG. 3 ); the L-shaped edge section 58 has an upwardly facing bonding surface 74 ( FIG. 1 ), this surface is part of the upper surface 66 of the intermediate layer 16 (FIG. 3). The adhesive on exposed bonding surfaces 72 and 74 is the adhesive material used to laminate top plastic layer 14 and middle plastic layer 16 together.

Although the size of the floor tile 10 may be chosen, a suitable size for the top layer 14, middle layer 16, and bottom layer 18 may be, for example, 12 inches by 12 inches. Square tiles are also available in smaller or larger sizes. The thickness of the top layer 14 may be, for example, about 2.0 mm, and the thickness of the middle layer 16 may be, for example, about 2.5 mm. The thickness of the bottom foam layer 18 may be, for example, about 3 mm. Edge offset "a" may be, for example, about 3/4 inch. Larger offsets can be set for larger bricks.

As schematically shown in Figure 6, the floor tile 10 is flexible enough to conform to typical variations in the surface contour of a floor substrate 102 (Figure 5) on which the floor tile 10 is placed. Additionally, the flexible foam material of the bottom layer 18 may be yieldable to small bumps and other imperfections in the floor substrate 102 commonly referred to as surface irregularities. The bottom foam layer 18 thus allows the floor tile 10 to conform to these surface irregularities and lay flat on the floor substrate 102 .

During side-by-side and ground-facing installation of the floor tiles 10, the downwardly facing bonding surface 72 (FIG. 1) of the L-shaped edge section 42 of the top layer 14 is positioned to engage the upwardly facing L-shaped edge section 58 of the middle layer 16. The bonding surface 74 to form an assembly 80 of floor tiles 10 as shown in FIG. 2 . When two tiles 10 are brought together, one of the tiles 10 can be placed at an approximately 45 degree angle (not shown) relative to the floor substrate 102 and rest on the corresponding upwardly facing bonding surfaces 74 of adjacent floor tiles 10 (figure 1).

Floor tile combination pattern 80 (FIG. 2) is but one example of the many possible tile patterns known in the art.

The floor tile 10 can be installed on the floor substrate 102 (FIG. 5) without an adhesive or adhesive coating on the floor substrate 102, nor on the lower surface 88 of the bottom foam layer 18 (FIG. 3). . During installation, the floor tile 10 can thus be placed on a dry floor substrate surface 102 so as to be easily moved to any chosen location, thereby facilitating the installation of the floor tile 10 in any desired pattern.

Preferably, the installation of the floor tiles 10 should start from the corner of the room (not shown) and work outwards from there. For most installations, an expansion gap of, for example, 1/4 inch from each wall is generally adequate. Expansion gaps are usually covered by molding. It has also been found useful to provide double sided tape on the first row of tiles 10 to assist in holding the first row in place during positioning of adjacent tiles 10 .

The top layer 14, middle layer 16, and bottom layer 18 of the floor tile 10 have an overall thickness that enables the floor tile 10 to be easily cut with a utility knife when trimming is required. The ease of cutting of the floor tile 10 and the adhesive-free placement of the tile 10 on the floor substrate 102 allows for convenient do-it-yourself installation of the floor tile 10 .

Another embodiment of a floor tile is indicated generally at 100 in FIG. 7 .

The floor tile 100 is a laminate of the top layer 14 and the middle layer 16 of the floor tile 10, with the bottom foam layer 18 omitted. Layers 14 and 16 are laminated together with an edge offset "a" as described above with respect to floor tile 10 .

The floor tile 100 therefore includes the same L-shaped edge sections 42 and 58 with the same offset "a".

When the floor tile 100 is installed on the floor substrate 102 ( FIG. 11 ), the lower surface 104 of the layer 16 may be free of any adhesive or adhesive coating and placed in direct contact with the floor substrate 102 . Floor substrate 102 may also be free of any adhesive or adhesive coating. Installation of the floor tile 100 in the brick pattern 110 (FIG. 8) is accomplished in a manner similar to that described above with respect to the installation of the floor tile 10 in the brick pattern 80 (FIG. 2).

The lower surface 104 ( FIGS. 7 and 8 ) of the layer 16 which is in contact with the floor substrate 102 ( FIG. 11 ) can yield to the surface irregularities of the floor substrate 102, thus allowing the floor tile 100 to conform to these surface irregularities and lay flat on the floor substrate. 102, as shown in Figure 11.

A packaging system for the floor tiles is indicated generally at 120 in FIG. 12 .

The packaging system 120 will be described in connection with the floor tile 10 but is equally applicable to the floor tile 100 .

Packaging system 120 includes a one-piece packaging device 122 (FIG. 15), preferably generally square and made of any suitable known flexible release material such as release paper or paper-thin. Non-stick plastic form. A suitable release material is silicone coated paper or an equivalent release material.

Packaging device 122 ( FIG. 15 ) has a square outer perimeter defined by opposing sides 128 , 130 and 136 , 138 . Packaging device 122 also has a square inner perimeter defined by opposing sides 144 , 146 and 152 , 154 . The distance between the outer perimeter sides 128 , 130 , 136 , and 138 and the corresponding inner perimeter sides 144 , 146 , 152 , and 154 is approximately equal to the edge offset “a” of the L-shaped edge sections 42 and 58 .

The length of the outer edges 128, 130, 136 and 138 (FIG. 15) of the device 122 is at least equal to the length of any one of the side edges 26, 34, 48, 56 and 32, 40, 46, 50 (FIG. 1) of the layers 14 and 16 Add the edge offset "a" of the L-shaped edge sections 42 and 58 .

The lengths of the inner edges 144, 146, 152 and 154 (FIG. 15) of the device 122 are approximately equal to the length of any one of the side edges 26, 34, 48, 56 and 32, 40, 46, 50 (FIG. 1) of the layers 14 and 16. Length minus edge offset "a".

The following reference designations may be used for the brick 10 and packaging device 122:

A = the length of any one of the side edges 26, 34, 48, 56 and 32, 40, 46, 50 of the layers 14 and 16;

C = the length of any one of the outer edges 128, 130, 136 and 138 of the device 122;

E=the length of any one of the inner sides 144, 146, 152 and 154 of the device 122;

a = edge offset of L-shaped edge portions 42 and 58 .

The following relationship between the brick 10 and the packaging device 122 can be indicated by the above reference designations as follows:

C=A+a;

E=A-a;

The packaging device 122 is assembled to the floor tile 10 in the manner shown in FIGS. 12 , 13 and 14 . Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, the two intersecting edges 160 and 162 (FIGS. 12 and 15) of the device 122 are positioned against the downwardly exposed bonding surface 72 (FIGS. 1 and 12) of the L-shaped edge section 42. , while placing the remaining two intersecting edges 168, 170 (FIGS. 12 and 15) of the packaging device 122 against the upwardly exposed adhesive surface 74 of the L-shaped edge section 58 (FIG. 1).

In this arrangement, the inner side portion 144 of the device 122 is positioned against the side edge 32 of the intermediate layer 16 and the inner side portion 154 of the device 122 is positioned against the edge 40 of the intermediate layer 16 . Thus, as shown in FIG. 13 , sides 160 and 162 of device 122 may contact and cover downwardly exposed bonding surface 72 of L-shaped edge portion 42 .

After placing the sides 160 and 162 of the device 122 against the downwardly exposed bonding surface 72 (FIGS. 1 and 12) of the L-shaped edge section 42, as shown in FIGS. 168 and 170 move forward and rest against upwardly exposed bonding surface 74 of L-shaped edge section 58 . The long inner side portion 146 ( FIG. 12 ) of the device 122 thus rests against the side edge portion 48 of the top layer 14 , while the inner side portion 152 of the device 122 rests against the side edge portion 56 of the top layer 14 .

If desired, the device 122 can be stretched slightly to complete placement of the sides 160 and 162 of the device 122 against the downwardly exposed bonding surface 72 and the placement of the sides 168 and 170 of the device 122 against the upwardly exposed bonding surface 74. placement.

Like this, the one-piece packaging device 122 that preferably has closed square periphery has covered all exposed bonding surfaces of two L-shaped edge sections 42 and 58, even though panel (panel) 10 includes bonding with downwardly exposed bonding surface. L-shaped edge section 42 of surface 72 ( FIG. 1 ) and L-shaped edge section 58 with upwardly exposed adhesive surface 74 .

Thus, all exposed bonding surfaces of the floor tile 10—even if they face opposite directions on different peripheral sections of the tile 10—can be covered and protected with the one-piece packaging device 122 until the tiles Ready to install. When the packaging device 122 is installed on each of the tiles 10 before the tiles 10 are ready for use, it allows the floor tiles 10 to be stacked one on top of the other (not shown) without causing one brick 10 to be separated from the other. bonded. Bricks 10 are stackable for packaging or for display purposes.

Another preferred embodiment of the floor tile is indicated generally at 180 in FIG. 16 .

Floor tile 180 includes all of the components of floor tile 10 with the same edge offsets as previously described, but with the addition of an underlayment 182 of flexible fiberboard sandwiched between top layer 14 and middle layer 16 . The underlayment 182 provides enhanced dimensional stability to the floor tile 180 .

The top layer 14 and the backing layer 182 are coextensive and have a common perimeter. Preferably, the mat layer 182 is formed from a non-woven fiberglass material, such as fiberglass, and has a thickness of approximately 0.2 mm.

The top layer 14 and the backing layer 182 are bonded to the middle layer 16 in an offset relationship such that the floor tile 180 includes the same L-shaped edge sections 42 and 58 with the same offset "a" as above with respect to the floor tile 10. mentioned. The edge section 42 has a downwardly exposed adhesive surface 72 on the backing layer 182 and the edge section 58 has an upwardly exposed adhesive surface 74 on the intermediate layer 16 .

The adhesive on the exposed surfaces 72 and 74 is the same adhesive used in the floor tile 10 to bond the top layer 14 to the middle layer 16 . Thus the same adhesive is used to bond the backing layer 182 to the top layer 14 and the middle layer 16 and to bond the middle layer 16 to the bottom layer 18 .

Floor tile 180 is installed on the floor in a similar manner as described above with respect to floor tile 10 .

As various changes could be made in the above structures and methods without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Claims (10)

1. A floor tile, comprising: a) a first layer made of flexible plastic sheet material having a first square shape, the first layer has at least two side edges, a first upper surface with a pattern and a first lower surface, said the patterned first upper surface forms the top surface of said floor tile, b) a second layer made of flexible plastic sheet material having a second square shape, the second layer having at least two side edges, a second upper surface and a second lower surface, c) said first and second layers are laminated together in offset relationship, and wherein said first lower surface of said first layer contacts said second upper surface of said second layer, d) the offset lamination of the first and second layers defines a first offset edge portion of the first layer and a second offset edge portion of the second layer, the first layer of the a first edge portion extends beyond at least one side edge of said second layer, said second edge portion of said second layer extends beyond at least one side edge of said first layer, e) said first offset edge portion has a first edge lower surface that is part of said first lower surface of said first layer, said second offset edge portion has a second an edge upper surface, the second edge upper surface being part of said second upper surface of said second layer, said first edge lower surface and said second edge upper surface having an exposed adhesive coating, f) said first and second layers have respective predetermined thicknesses such that the laminate of said first and second layers has a flexibility that allows said laminate to conform to the surface contours of a flooring substrate, said floor tiles are laid on said floor substrate, g) the plastic sheet of the second layer has yield properties to surface irregularities of the floor substrate such that the second layer conforms to surface irregularities of the floor substrate when laid in contact on the floor substrate, The floor tiles are laid on the floor substrate. 2. The floor tile of claim 1, wherein the first and second square shapes are congruent squares. 3. The floor tile of claim 2, wherein the first offset edge portion extends beyond two intersecting side edges of the second layer such that the first offset edge portion is L Shaped. 4. The floor tile of claim 2, wherein the second offset edge portion extends beyond two intersecting side edges of the first layer such that the second offset edge portion is L Shaped. 5. The floor tile of claim 3, wherein the second offset edge portion extends beyond two intersecting side edges of the first layer such that the second offset edge portion is L Shaped. 6. The floor tile according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a third layer made of a flexible foam material having a third square shape, said third layer being bonded to said second layer and coextensive with the second layer such that the second and third layers have a common perimeter, the foam material of the third layer has a predetermined thickness and yielding of surface irregularities such that the third layer conforms to the surface contour of the floor substrate on which the floor tiles are laid and the third layer is laid in contact with the floor substrate Conforms to surface irregularities of the floor substrate while on. 7. The floor tile of claim 1, wherein the floor tile includes a one-piece release cover for covering the adhesive-coated portion of the first offset edge portion. The lower surface of the first edge of the adhesive and the upper surface of the second edge coated with adhesive of the second offset edge portion, the release cover comprises a piece of continuous strip made of release material, the continuous a strip extending over the adhesive coated first edge lower surface and over the second edge upper surface to cover the exposed adhesive coating of the first and second offset edge portions , such that said one continuous strip of release material covers the exposed adhesive-coated surfaces of said first and second edge portions. 8. A floor tile, comprising: a) a first layer made of plastic sheet material having a first square shape, the first layer having at least two side edges, a first upper surface and a first lower surface, b) a second layer made of plastic sheet material having a second square shape, the second layer having at least two side edges, a second upper surface and a second lower surface, c) said first and second layers are laminated together in offset relationship, and wherein said first lower surface of said first layer contacts said second upper surface of said second layer, d) the offset lamination of the first and second layers defines a first offset edge portion of the first layer and a second offset edge portion of the second layer, the first layer of the a first edge portion extends beyond at least one side edge of said second layer, said second edge portion of said second layer extends beyond at least one side edge of said first layer, e) said first offset edge portion has a first edge lower surface that is part of said first lower surface of said first layer, said second offset edge portion has a second an edge upper surface, the second edge upper surface being part of said second upper surface of said second layer, said first edge lower surface and said second edge upper surface having an exposed adhesive coating, f) a release cover for covering the adhesive-coated first edge lower surface of said first offset edge portion and the adhesive-coated adhesive of said second offset edge portion. a second edge upper surface of the adhesive, the release cover comprising a continuous strip of release material extending over the exposed adhesive coating on the lower surface of the first edge and Extending on said second edge upper surface so as to cover the exposed adhesive coating of said first and second offset edge portions, whereby said one continuous strip of release material covers said first The exposed adhesive-coated surfaces of the first and second edge portions. 9. The floor tile of claim 8, wherein the covering is a one-piece member. 10. A method of packaging floor tiles comprising a laminate of two layers of plastic sheet material having the same square shape, the two layers being laminated together in offset relationship so as to provide Each layer defines an offset edge portion such that the offset edge portion of each layer extends beyond at least two side edges of the other layer, each offset edge portion having oppositely facing bond-coated A surface of an adhesive, the method comprising: providing a continuous strip of flexible release material by bringing a first portion of the release covering material into abutting contact with the adhesive coating of one of said offset edge portions and A second portion of the release covering material is brought into contact with the adhesive-coated surface of the other of said offset edge portions to cover the exposed adhesive-coated surfaces of said two offset edge portions.

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