Richard C Balmer

US Patent:

6998170, Feb 14, 2006

Filed:

Oct 12, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/977170

Inventors:

Richard H. Balmer - Manheim PA, US
Donald L. Kurtz - Lititz PA, US
David R. Wilcox - Mountville PA, US

Assignee:

AWI Licensing Company - Wilmington DE

International Classification:

B32B 31/00
B27N 3/00
B44C 1/00

US Classification:

428221, 1563082, 1563084, 156 63, 264109, 264112, 428323, 428327

Abstract:

Disclosed are both a method and composition for providing a flooring visual by agglomeration of components. The flooring visual is comprised of a jaspe or marble like finish. The agglomerated mix may be formed into welding rods or into decorative sheets. The decorative sheets may be seamed with the welding rods.

US Patent:

20030072936, Apr 17, 2003

Filed:

Oct 12, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/977175

Inventors:

Richard Balmer - Manheim PA, US
Donald Kurtz - Lititz PA, US

International Classification:

B32B005/16

US Classification:

428/323000, 428/327000

Abstract:

Disclosed is both a method and composition for providing a three dimensional welding rod. The welding rod essentially comprises a first layer which is substantially formed from a consolidated layer having pigmented particles and a second layer which is substantially formed from a consolidated layer of clear particle. The three dimensional welding rod includes three dimensional pigmented particles which appear to be dispersed about the clear particles and having an excess of clear upon forming the seam.

US Patent:

20100247834, Sep 30, 2010

Filed:

Mar 27, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/412419

Inventors:

Richard H. Balmer - Manheim PA, US
Kean M. Anspach - Quarryville PA, US
Heath Harrington - Columbia PA, US
Michael E. Buckwalter - New Providence PA, US
Brent L. Stoll - Lititz PA, US

International Classification:

B32B 33/00

US Classification:

428 418, 4281951

Abstract:

A floor panel and a floating floor system incorporating the floor panel include a floor panel having a top layer and a bottom layer. The top layer has a top surface and a bottom surface. The top surface has a visible decorative pattern. The bottom layer has a top surface and a bottom surface. The top surface of the bottom layer is adhered to the bottom surface of the top layer such that the bottom layer is offset from the top layer in a direction of length and width and a marginal end portion of the top surface of the bottom layer and a marginal end portion of the bottom surface of the top layer is exposed. At least one of the marginal end portions has an adhesive, and a ratio of a thickness of the top layer to a thickness of the bottom layer is about 5 or greater.

US Patent:

20110042003, Feb 24, 2011

Filed:

Aug 19, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/859357

Inventors:

Richard H. Balmer - Manheim PA, US
Shih Chung Lee - Taipei, TW
Dung V. Dao - Lititz PA, US
Heath E. Harrington - Columbia PA, US
Michael E. Buckwalter - New Providence PA, US
Kean M. Anspach - Quarryville PA, US

International Classification:

B32B 37/12

US Classification:

156325, 156 60

Abstract:

A method of making a floor panel includes the steps of: providing an adhesive on a release member; laminating or marrying the release member to a bottom layer such that the adhesive is between the release member and the bottom layer; removing a portion of the release member to expose an area of the adhesive; and adhering a top layer to the area such that the top layer is offset with respect to the bottom layer in a direction of length and width and a marginal end portion of a top surface of the bottom layer and a marginal end portion of the bottom surface of the top layer is exposed.

US Patent:

20110042252, Feb 24, 2011

Filed:

Aug 19, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/859566

Inventors:

Richard H. Balmer - Manheim PA, US
Shih Chung Lee - Taipei, TW
Dung V. Dao - Lititz PA, US
Christopher R. Knafelc - Ephrata PA, US
Heath E. Harrington - Columbia PA, US
Kean M. Anspach - Quarryville PA, US
Michael E. Buckwalter - New Providence PA, US

International Classification:

B65D 85/62
B65D 5/00
B65B 35/50
B65B 5/10

US Classification:

206321, 206449, 53447, 53475

Abstract:

A packaging system and a method of packaging a plurality of floor panels in a box includes floor panels having a top layer and a bottom layer. The top layer has a top surface with a visible decorative pattern and a bottom surface adhered to a top surface of the bottom layer such that the bottom layer is offset from the top layer in a direction of length and width and a marginal end portion of the top surface of the bottom layer and a marginal end portion of the bottom surface of the top layer is exposed. At least one of the marginal end portions has an adhesive. The floor panels are stacked in the box in pairs. Each of the pairs is stacked such that the top surfaces of the top layers of each of the pairs of the floor panels are facing each other.

US Patent:

20130047537, Feb 28, 2013

Filed:

Aug 22, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/214318

Inventors:

Dung V. DAO - Lititz PA, US
Richard H. BALMER - Manheim PA, US

Assignee:

ARMSTRONG WORLD INDUSTRIES, INC. - Lancaster PA

International Classification:

E04B 5/00
E04C 2/20

US Classification:

523093, 525881, 523091

Abstract:

A floor panel and a floating floor system include a top surface and a bottom surface. The top surface has a visible decorative pattern and the bottom surface has a recess which extends about the periphery of the bottom surface. The recess has a recess surface. The floor panel includes a joining member with a top surface and a bottom surface. The top surface of the joining member is adhered to the recess surface of the recess. The bottom surface of the joining member and the bottom surface of the floor panel are essentially flush which each other. The use of the joining member does not create any imprints on the top surface of the floor panel.

US Patent:

51027160, Apr 7, 1992

Filed:

Oct 29, 1990

Appl. No.:

7/605079

Inventors:

Richard H. Balmer - Manheim PA
Martin Dees - Landisville PA
Frank G. Drout - Lancaster PA

Assignee:

Armstrong World Industries, Inc. - Lancaster PA

International Classification:

B32B 312

US Classification:

428158

Abstract:

A surface covering product is disclosed which includes a layer of fused embossed PVC material on a substrate and a layer of transparent or translucent plastic material substantially covering the fused PVC layer and filling the embossed area of depression in the PVC layer. The surface covering product is made by applying the plastic material to the embossed surface of the PVC material and wiping off at least a portion of the plastic material. In one embodiment, a film of plastic material of substantial or minimal thickness remains on the fused PVC material. In another embodiment, the plastic material is completely wiped off the undepressed area of the fused granular material. The PVC material is preferably a granular material such as a stencil vinyl fine material. In one embodiment, the plastic material is a layer of minimal thickness substantially covering the stencil vinyl fine material.

US Patent:

57120323, Jan 27, 1998

Filed:

Nov 21, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/561102

Inventors:

Richard H. Balmer - Manheim PA
Donald L. Kurtz - Lititz PA

Assignee:

Armstrong World Industries, Inc. - Lancaster PA

International Classification:

D02G 300

US Classification:

428364

Abstract:

The welding rod is a laminate structure in which a print layer is disposed between a first thermoplastic layer and a second transparent thermoplastic layer. Preferably the welding rod is in the form of an elongated element having a half-round cross-sectional shape. The welding rod is used to join two pieces of thermoplastic sheeting, particularly flooring, together. If the welding rod has a pattern similar to the printed pattern of the sheeting the resulting surface covering looks seamless.