Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Module or panel having discrete edgewise or face-to-face... – Having integral key
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-23
2002-12-10
Horton, Yvonne M. (Department: 3635)
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Module or panel having discrete edgewise or face-to-face...
Having integral key
C052S592100, C052S586100, C052S590200, C052S592300
Reexamination Certificate
active
06490836
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a floor covering, made of hard floor panels.
2. Related Technology
In the first instance, the invention is intended for so-called laminated floors, but generally it can also be applied for other kinds of floor covering, consisting of hard floor panels, such as veneer parquet, prefabricated parquet, or other floor panels which can be compared to laminated flooring.
It is known that such floor panels can be applied in various ways.
According to a first possibility, the floor panels are attached at the underlying floor, either by glueing or by nailing them on. This technique has a disadvantage that is rather complicated and that subsequent changes can only be made by breaking out the floor panels.
According to a second possibility, the floor panels are installed loosely onto the subflooring, whereby the floor panels mutually match into each other by means of a tongue and groove coupling, whereby mostly they are glued together in the tongue and groove, too. The floor obtained in this manner, also called a floating parquet flooring, has as an advantage that it is easy to install and that the complete floor surface can move which often is convenient in order to receive possible expansion and shrinkage phenomena.
A disadvantage with a floor covering of the above-mentioned type, above all, if the floor panels are installed loosely onto the subflooring, consists in that during the expansion of the floor and its subsequent shrinkage, the floor panels themselves can drift apart, as a result of which undesired gaps can be formed, for example, if the glue connection breaks.
In order to remedy this disadvantage, techniques have already been through of whereby connection elements made of metal are provided between the single floor panels in order to keep them together. Such connection elements, however, are rather expensive to make and, furthermore, their provision or the installation thereof is a time-consuming occupation.
Examples of embodiments which apply such metal connection elements are described, among others, in the documents WO 94/26999 and WO 93/13280.
Furthermore, couplings are known which allow coupling parts to snap fit into each other, e.g., from the documents WO 94/1628, WO 96/27719 and WO 96/27721. The snapping-together effect obtained with these forms of embodiment, however, does not guarantee a 100-percent optimum counteraction against the development of gaps between the floor panels, more particularly, because in fact well-defined plays have to be provided in order to be sure that the snapping-together is possible.
From GB 424.057, a coupling for parquetry parts is known which, in consideration of the nature of the coupling, only is appropriate for massive wooden parquetry.
Furthermore, there are also couplings for panels known from the documents GB 2.117.813, GB 2,256.023 and DE 3.544.845. These couplings, however, are not appropriate for connecting floor panels.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention aims at an improved floor covering of the aforementioned type, the floor panels of which can be coupled to each other in an optimum manner and/or the floor panels of which can be manufactured in a smooth manner, and whereby preferably one or more of the aforementioned disadvantages are excluded.
The invention also aims at a floor covering which has the advantage that no mistakes during installing, such as gaps and such, can be created.
Furthermore, the invention also aims at a floor covering whereby the subsequent development of gaps is excluded or at least counteracted in an optimum manner, whereby also the possibility of the penetration of dirt and humidity is minimalized.
To this aim, the invention relates to a floor covering, consisting of hard floor panels which, at least at the edges of the two opposite sides, are provided with coupling parts, cooperating which each other, substantially in the form of a tongue and a groove, wherein the coupling parts are provided with integrated mechanical locking elements which prevent the drifting apart of two coupled floor panels into a direction perpendicular to the related edges and parallel to the underside of the coupled floor panels. Hereby, these coupling parts are optimalized in such a manner that they allow that any form of play is counteracted and preferably is excluded.
By integrated mechanical locking elements is understood that these form a fixed part of the floor panels, either by being connected in a fixed manner to the floor panels, or by being formed in one piece therewith.
In a first important preferred form of embodiment, the coupling parts are provided with locking elements which, in the engaged position of two or more ofsuch floor panels, exert a tension force upon each other which force the floor panels towards each other. As a result of this that not only the formation of gaps counteracted during installation, but also in a later stage the development of gaps, from any causes whatsoever, is counteracted.
According to another characteristic of the intention, the coupling parts, hereby are formed in one piece with the core of the floor panels.
According to a second important preferred embodiment, the aforementioned optimalization is achieved in that the floor covering panel possesses the following combination of characteristics: the coupling parts and locking elements are formed in one piece with the core of the floor panels; the coupling parts have such a shape that two subsequent floor panels can be engaged into each other exclusively by snapping together and/or turning, whereby each subsequent floor panel can be inserted laterally into the previous; the coupling parts are interlocked free from pay in all directions in a plane extending perpendicular to the aforementioned edges; the possible difference between the upper and lower lip of the lips which border the aforementioned grooves, measured in the plane of the floor panel and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the groove, is smaller than one time the total of the thickness of the panel; the total thickness of each related floor panel is larger than or equal to 5 mm; and that the basic material of the floor panels, of which the aforementioned core and locking elements are formed, consists of a ground product which, by means of a binding agent or by means of melting together, is made into a unitary composite, and/or of a product on the basis of synthetic material and/or of a chip board with fine chips.
Due to the fact that the coupling parts provide for an interlocking free from play, as well as due to the fact that these coupling parts are manufactured in one piece, from the basic material of the floor panels, a perfect connection between adjacent floor panels can always be guaranteed, even with repeated expansion and shrinkage of the floor surface.
This combination of characteristics can be combined or not with the aforementioned characteristic that the locking elements exert a tension force upon each other when panels are joined together.
According to a third important preferred embodiment, the characteristics of which may or may not be combined with the characteristics of the embodiments described above, the floor covering is characterized in that the lower lip which limits or defines the lower side of the groove, extends beyond the upper lip in the plane of the panel; the locking elements are formed at least of a contact portion which inwardly slopes downward; and that this portion, at least partially, is located in the portion of the lower lip which extends beyond the upper lip. The advantages of these features will appear from the further description.
According to a preferred form of embodiment, the floor panels are configured as elongated panels and the coupling parts described above are applied along the longitudinal sides of these panels.
According to a particular form of embodiment, coupling parts are provided at the other two sides, too, either of another construction than described above or not.
In the most preferred form of embodiment, for the bas
Cappelle Mark Gaston Maurits
Moriau Stefan Simon Gustaaf
Thiers Bernard Paul Joseph
Horton Yvonne M.
Unilin Beheer B.V. Besloten Vennootschap
LandOfFree
Floor panel with edge connectors does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Floor panel with edge connectors, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Floor panel with edge connectors will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2927800