Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Module or panel having discrete edgewise or face-to-face... – Having integral key
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-04
2001-06-19
Stephan, Beth A. (Department: 3635)
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Module or panel having discrete edgewise or face-to-face...
Having integral key
C052S590100, C052S480000, C052S535000, C052S539000, C403S381000, C403S387000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06247285
ABSTRACT:
The invention relates to a panel designed in particular for flooring and comprising a supporting plate made of wood material provided on at least one face with a covering, the plate having a tongue on at least one edge, and a groove on at least one other edge, fitting into corresponding grooves and tongues of further similar panels.
When such panels are laid to form a floor, glue is applied to the upper surface of the tongues of each panel before the tongues are inserted in the corresponding grooves of the adjacent panels. The glue applied to the tongues is squeezed out when they are inserted in a groove of an adjacent panel. It spreads into the groove, which is deeper than the length of the tongue, and also reaches the faces of the assembled panels. The glue is then not only in the area of contact between the surface of the tongue and the opposing wall of the groove but also at the joints between the assembled panels. Glue which comes out onto the faces of the assembled panels has to be removed by wiping it off.
Because of the varying manufacturing tolerances of the panels, in particular the interengaging tongues and grooves, it is necessary to provide undercuts in the region of the meeting point between the tongues and the faces or edges of the panels, and for the depth of the grooves to be greater than the length of the tongues. The area available for an adhesive bond between the tongues and grooves and the mutually meeting faces or edges of the panels which are to be fitted and bonded together is therefore relatively small.
As a result of this problem there are frequently faults or weak points in floors assembled from such panels. This leads to the adhesive zones between panels becoming at least partially torn, so that tears or other openings arise in the floor, through which atmospheric moisture and in particular water used for cleaning can penetrate. Once moisture has penetrated into the joints between adjacent panels the wood material of the panels starts to warp, which ultimately leads to warping of the floor which has been laid. When such a floor has become damaged it cannot be repaired, but has to be completely replaced.
Such damage to flooring made of these panels arises as a result of poor quality laying. It can also arise when the panels have been carefully and expertly laid on a carefully prepared substrate but where the supporting ground is at all uneven. Any alterations in the supporting ground and unevenness in the supporting ground, for example through settlement in the building in which the floor is laid, which arise after the floor is laid can also damage the flooring.
An aim of the invention is to solve the problem of improving the connection between tongue and groove flooring panels to be laid adjacent to one another, in such a way that even when there is unevenness present in the substrate or unevenness arises after the laying of the floor, no damage can occur in the region of the joints between the panels, such as could lead over a period of time to the entire floor requiring to be replaced.
According to the present invention, a panel, in particular for floor coverings, comprises a supporting plate of wood material, said supporting plate being provided on at least one face with a covering and said supporting plate being provided on at least one edge with a combination of a tongue and a groove, and on at least one other edge with a combination of a groove and a tongue, said tongue and groove combination on said one edge fitting with said groove and tongue combination on said other edge of a further said panel.
The invention provides a double tongue and groove connection for flooring panels which allows increased contact areas at the joints in comparison with conventional glued tongue and groove connections and thereby allows greater areas for gluing. This provides improved retention and stability between the assembled and glued panels, where they are laid on a substrate which is not quite flat. The invention also allows faults in the laying to be largely overcome.
Other features of the invention appear in the subsidiary claims.
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A Phi Dieu Tran
Renner , Otto, Boisselle & Sklar, LLP
Stephan Beth A.
LandOfFree
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