US 2,002,031,646 · Filed 2001-08-01
The Hidden Connector That Makes Luxury Vinyl Planks Click Together Seamlessly
Imagine a puzzle where wooden or vinyl planks lock together along their edges—this patent covers the clever plastic spine that slides into grooves on both planks to hold them together. It's designed to hide inside the seam so you never see it, and it can be cut to different lengths depending on how many planks you're connecting.
The plain-English version
What it protects
The claim covers a polymeric spline connector—essentially a plastic rod with dimensions carefully designed to fit snugly into matching grooves carved into the side edges of two adjacent planks. What's protected here is the specific geometry and material composition that allows the spline to slot into the first plank, extend across the joint, and insert into the second plank while remaining hidden from view once the planks are locked together. The patent also covers the broader surface covering system that uses multiple splines to connect multiple planks, plus methods for assembling planks using these connectors.
Why it matters
This connector system is foundational to modern floating floor installation and laminate/vinyl plank design. By creating an invisible joining mechanism that aligns planks precisely while keeping the joint hidden, the patent enables manufacturers to produce flooring that looks seamless and professional without visible fasteners. The ability to customize spline length independent of plank length gives manufacturers flexibility in designing modular flooring products. This kind of mechanical interlock became central to the DIY-friendly, click-together flooring category that exploded in popularity in the early 2000s.
Real-world use
Every time you snap together luxury vinyl planks or laminate flooring during a home renovation, you're using a connector system descended from this patent—the spline is the hidden plastic piece that slides into the grooves and locks adjacent planks into place.
Original USPTO abstract
A spline, tongue, connector, or snap connector is described and useful for connecting a variety of surface covering products together. In one embodiment the spline is a polymeric material having an elongated shape and dimensions such that the spline has a sufficient width to fit into and extend outside of a groove in a side edge of a first plank and to fit into a respective groove in a side edge of a second plank. The spline may be concealed from view when the first plank and the second plank are connected together by the spline. A surface covering system for connecting two or more planks together is also described as well as methods to connect two or more planks together using the splines of the present invention. The system can include a spline having a length that differs from the length of one or more of the planks.
Patent details
- Publication number
- US 2,002,031,646
- Filing date
- 2001-08-01
- Grant date
- Application — not yet granted
- Assignee
- Chen Hao A. / Richard Judd
- Inventor(s)
- CHEN HAO A., JUDD RICHARD
- CPC class
- B29C65/564
Want to file your own patent?
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