LIQUID-IMPERMEABLE, VAPOR-PERMEABLE, INTEGRAL FLOOR COVERING AND PROCESS FOR THE MANUFACTURE THEREOF

摘要

A liquid-impermeable, vapor-permeable floor covering, such as a carpet or rug, is provided. In one embodiment of the floor covering (10), it has an upper or top tufted carpeting layer (16) that includes a primary substrate (26) and tufts (32, 34) of yarn (36) extending above the primary substrate (26). A composite secondary backing (15) is located below the primary substrate (26) and is bonded to the carpeting layer (16) by adhesive layer (38). A breathable polymeric film (12) which is liquid-impermeable and vapor-permeable is located below and bonded to a secondary substrate (18) by adhesive layer (23). A method of manufacturing the floor covering (10) includes adhesively bonding an upper surface (14) of a microporous, liquid impermeable, vapor permeable film (12) to a lower surface (22) of a secondary substrate (18), thereby forming a composite secondary backing (15); and then bonding an upper surface (20) of the composite secondary backing (15) to the lower surface (30) of a primary substrate (26) with a hot melt adhesive (38).