William R Kauffman

US Patent:

6511926, Jan 28, 2003

Filed:

Jan 21, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/234887

Inventors:

William J. Kauffman - Manheim PA
Peter A. Christie - Lancaster PA
William B. Saporetti - Lancaster PA
Steven F. Hynicka - Lancaster PA

Assignee:

AWI Licensing Company - Wilmington DE

International Classification:

B32B 2702

US Classification:

442 62, 442 72, 442148, 442396, 442394, 428203, 428204, 428337, 428500

Abstract:

A sheet flooring product, including a homogeneous melt processable resin layer formed of a melt processable, non-plastisol layer, and an adjacent felt layer produced by a beater saturated method and having a substantially uniform thickness of between about 5 mils and about 40 mils. The melt processable resin layer is preferably applied by a hot melt calender (âHMCâ) process to achieve enhanced can drop, refrigerator drag and indentation values.

US Patent:

6613256, Sep 2, 2003

Filed:

Feb 20, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/789172

Inventors:

W. Craig Brossman - Terre Hill PA
Steven F. Hynicka - Lancaster PA
Lisa Moyer - Lititz PA
William J. Kauffman - Manheim PA

Assignee:

AWI Licensing Company - Wilmington DE

International Classification:

B29C 4424

US Classification:

264 464, 156 78, 156 79, 156209, 264 458, 264 465, 264 52, 264293

Abstract:

Disclosed is a method of manufacturing a mechanically and chemically embossed surface covering having selectively textured surfaces. The method includes forming a web coated with a wear layer. The coated web is heated to a temperature at which the wear layer is cured, the foam layer expands, and the pattern is chemically embossed to form a surface covering having foamed regions and nonfoamed regions. The temperature gradient of the surface covering is adjusted such that there is a temperature gradient difference between the foamed and nonfoamed regions. A surface texture is then mechanically embossed into the wear layer and selectively set onto the wear layer substantially overlying the non-foamed regions.

US Patent:

6890625, May 10, 2005

Filed:

Feb 5, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/777040

Inventors:

Gary A. Sigel - Millersville PA, US
William J. Kauffman - Manheim PA, US
Donald E. Barshinger - East Prospect PA, US

Assignee:

AWI Licensing Company - Wilmington DE

International Classification:

B32B003/00
B32B003/02

US Classification:

4281951, 428 76, 428206, 428207, 4285422, 4289088

Abstract:

Surface covering components that include a topcoat layer with different gloss levels in various regions on the top coat layer, and methods of manufacturing such surface covering components, are disclosed. The surface covering components include a coating layer that includes regions that have a relatively higher gloss, and regions with a relatively lower gloss. The differential gloss is provided by coating a substrate with a UV-curable coating composition, subjecting a first region of the surface coating to polymerization under a first set of conditions, and subjecting a second region of the surface coating to polymerization under a second set of conditions. The UV-curable coating compositions include UV-curable components and one or more flatting agents. The different polymerization conditions involve applying various photoinitiators, thermal initiators and/or cure altering agents to some regions of the coated substrate, and not applying these components to other regions of the substrate. The components are applied in the form of a pattern.

US Patent:

6902823, Jun 7, 2005

Filed:

Apr 17, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/418015

Inventors:

Kean M. Anspach - Quarryville PA, US
William J. Kauffman - Manheim PA, US

Assignee:

AWI Licensing Company - Wilmington DE

International Classification:

B32B027/20

US Classification:

428520, 428522, 428142

Abstract:

Disclosed is decorative surface covering that has a substantially non-aqueous absorptive layer and a water retentive layer. The decorative surface covering may be a vinyl-backed floor covering that can be adhered to a substantially non-aqueous absorptive subfloor with a water-based adhesive. The water retentive layer is formed from a polymer matrix and super absorbent water retentive particles. The water retentive layer may also include a hydrophilic additive to facilitate movement of water from the adhesive to the super absorbent water retentive particles. The water retentive layer may also be applied to the substantially non-aqueous absorptive subfloor.

US Patent:

6908585, Jun 21, 2005

Filed:

Mar 24, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/395297

Inventors:

Gary A. Sigel - Millersville PA, US
Jennifer W. Sager - Salunga PA, US
William J. Kauffman - Manheim PA, US

Assignee:

AWI Licensing Company - Wilmington DE

International Classification:

B29C035/08
B29C059/00

US Classification:

264447, 264485, 264494, 264509, 264 73, 264 74

Abstract:

A method and composition for providing a colored high performance wear surface for floor coverings is disclosed. Specifically, the floor covering includes a substrate and a high performance layer comprising a radiation cured pigmented composition. The exposed surface of the floor covering has a stain resistance of less than about 150 Delta E units. A pigmented high performance wear layer can be added in register with a printed design on the substrate or in register with an embossed texture of the substrate. Additionally, a high performance topcoat wear layer may be added. The pigmented high performance layer may include a nacreous pigment.

US Patent:

6908663, Jun 21, 2005

Filed:

Nov 15, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/712872

Inventors:

Gary A. Sigel - Millersville PA, US
Jennifer W. Sager - Salunga PA, US
William J. Kauffman - Manheim PA, US

Assignee:

AWI Licensing Company - Wilmington DE

International Classification:

B32B001/00
B32B003/00
B44C001/22
A47G035/00

US Classification:

4281951, 428161, 428187, 428207, 4285422, 4289088, 4289133, 216 52

Abstract:

A method and composition for providing a colored high performance wear surface for floor coverings is disclosed. Specifically, the floor covering includes a substrate and a high performance layer comprising a radiation cured pigmented composition. The exposed surface of the floor covering has a stain resistance of less than about 150 Delta E units. A pigmented high performance wear layer can be added in register with a printed design on the substrate or in register with an embossed texture of the substrate. Additionally, a high performance topcoat wear layer may be added. The pigmented high performance layer may include a nacreous pigment.

US Patent:

6911263, Jun 28, 2005

Filed:

Jan 30, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/060487

Inventors:

William J. Kauffman - Manheim PA, US
Gary A. Sigel - Millersville PA, US

Assignee:

AWI Licensing Company - Wilmington DE

International Classification:

B32B027/36

US Classification:

428447, 428446, 428480, 427387, 4274125

Abstract:

Composite wear layers that include a polyethylene terephthalate wear layer adhered to an organic/inorganic (O/I) top coat layer, and surface coverings and surface covering components including the composite wear layers, are disclosed. The organic/inorganic top coat layer is formed from a top coat formulation that comprises a coupling agent that includes an organic polymerizable moiety such as epoxy, acrylate and the like, as well as an inorganic polymerizable moiety such as a silanol. The wear layer is typically in the range of about 1-20 mils thickness, and the top coat layer is typically in the range of 2 microns to 0. 5 mils thickness. The composite wear layers can be included in surface coverings or surface covering components, such as floor and wall coverings. An adhesion promoter/binder can be used to better adhere the polyethylene terephthalate wear layer to the organic/inorganic top coat layer.

US Patent:

6946185, Sep 20, 2005

Filed:

Nov 25, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/303603

Inventors:

William J. Kauffman - Manheim PA, US
Malcolm John Selby - Great Ayton, GB
Rajmeet Kaur Jagdev - Stockton-On-Tees, GB

Assignee:

AWI Licensing Company - Wilmington DE

International Classification:

B32B003/00
B32B015/02

US Classification:

428172, 428141, 428142, 428204, 428207, 4283142, 4283159, 428402, 4284022, 4289088

Abstract:

Surface coverings and surface covering components that include a textured transparent or translucent wear layer and a design layer, where the design layer is printed with an ink that includes collapsible microspheres, are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods of manufacturing such surface coverings and surface covering components. In one embodiment, a pattern is printed on a substrate to be coated with a wear layer. In another embodiment, a clear transparent or translucent layer underlies the design layer. The ink includes collapsible microspheres, and can also include foaming inhibitors. A number of surface covering substrates and surface coverings can be prepared using the methods described herein. The surface coverings include a substrate, for example, a foamable substrate, a design layer printed with an ink composition that includes collapsible microspheres, and a wear layer. The ink compositions containing the collapsible microspheres can be printed via conventional gravure methods, and the transparent or translucent wear layer can also be printed using conventional methods.