Floor covering system comprising a lighting system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9869465-B2
Application number	US-201013497289-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 17, 2010
Priority date	Sep 24, 2009
Publication date	Jan 16, 2018
Grant date	Jan 16, 2018

Abstract

A floor covering system ( 10 ) with (a) a PVC-based floor covering ( 100 ) and (b) a lighting system ( 200 ) arranged to generate light ( 210 ). The PVC-based floor covering ( 100 ) has a user side ( 101 ) and an opposite back side ( 102 ). The lighting system ( 200 ) is arranged at the back side ( 102 ) of the PVC-based floor covering ( 100 ). The PVC-based floor covering ( 100 ) has a light transmission for light ( 210 ) generated by the lighting system ( 200 ) in the range of 0.5% to 30%, especially in the range of 1% to 20%.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A floor covering system comprising:
a floor covering layer having a single user side configured to allow transmission of light in the range of 0.5% to 30% and an opposite back side;
an auxiliary layer comprising a first side and an opposite second side, the first side of the auxiliary layer positioned at the back side of the floor covering layer, wherein the auxiliary layer defines a plurality of openings therethrough;
a lighting system layer positioned at the second side of the auxiliary layer and configured to generate light emitted via the user side, wherein the lighting system comprises a plurality of light sources affixed to and extending from a support, wherein the support provides power to the plurality of light sources, and wherein each of the plurality of light sources is positioned entirely within a respective one of the openings in the auxiliary layer to provide a substantially flat lighting system;
a sensor configured to detect an object on or near the floor covering; and
a controller in communication with the sensor and arranged to control a parameter of the lighting system in response to detection by the sensor of the object;
wherein the floor covering is chosen from the group consisting of PVC floorings and laminate floorings; and
wherein the lighting system is not visible through the floor covering when no light is emitted by the lighting system.

2. The floor covering system according to claim 1 , wherein the floor covering is a PVC flooring that comprises a filler material having a refractive index in the range of 1.45 to 1.65.

3. The floor covering system according to claim 1 , wherein the floor covering comprises a plurality of floor tiles.

4. A floor tile chosen from the group consisting of PVC flooring tiles and laminate flooring tiles, the floor covering tile comprising:
a first layer comprising a single user face configured to allow transmission of light in the range of 0.5% to 30%, and an opposite back side face;
an auxiliary layer comprising a first side and an opposite second side, the first side of the auxiliary layer positioned at the back side of the floor covering layer, wherein the auxiliary layer defines a plurality of openings therethrough; and
a lighting unit layer positioned at the second side of the auxiliary layer and comprising a plurality of light sources affixed to and extending from a support, wherein the support provides power to the plurality of light sources, and wherein each of the plurality of light sources is positioned entirely within a respective one of the openings in the auxiliary layer to provide a substantially flat lighting system;
wherein the lighting unit is not visible from the user face when no light is emitted by the lighting unit.

5. Use of a floor covering system according to claim 1 , for way guiding.

Assignees

• Van Herpen Maarten Marinus Johannes Wilhelmus
• Willemsen Oscar Hendrikus
• Krijn Marcellinus Petrus Carolus Michael
• Philips Lighting Holding Bv

Inventors

• Van Herpen Maarten Marinus Johannes Wilhelmus
• Willemsen Oscar Hendrikus
• Krijn Marcellinus Petrus Carolus Michael

Classifications

• E04F2290/026

  for lighting · CPC title

• F21V23/0485

  the sensor sensing the physical interaction between a user and certain areas located on the lighting device, e.g. a touch sensor · CPC title

• E04F15/02 Primary

  Flooring or floor layers composed of a number of similar elements (of webs E04F15/16) · CPC title

• F21V23/0471

  the sensor detecting the proximity, the presence or the movement of an object or a person · CPC title

• F21V33/006 Primary

  General building constructions or finishing work for buildings, e.g. roofs, gutters, stairs or floors; Garden equipment; Sunshades or parasols · CPC title