Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Module or panel having discrete edgewise or face-to-face... – Having integral key
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-25
2001-04-17
Stephan, Beth A. (Department: 3635)
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Module or panel having discrete edgewise or face-to-face...
Having integral key
C052S592100, C052S592400, C052S588100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06216409
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention concerns a cladding panel for floors, walls or the like having, on at least two of its opposite edges, on one edge a longitudinal tongue and on the other edge a longitudinal groove between a top lip and a bottom lip, the tongue and the groove being formed within the thickness of the panel and having respective shapes in cross section complementary to each other so that the tongue of one panel is adapted to be inserted into the groove of an adjacent panel by rotating one panel relative to the other so that the shaped portions of the tongue inter-engage with the shaped portions of the groove to oppose withdrawal of one panel relative to the other in a direction perpendicular to said sides and parallel to the faces of said panels, the tongue having in cross section, starting from its end and on its bottom face, a substantially circular first section followed by a downwardly projecting raised portion and the bottom lip having on its top face, starting from the back of the groove, a first section on which the first section of the tongue rolls and slides, followed by a recess complementary to said raised portion, followed by a bead delimiting said recess, the bottom lip being adapted to bend elastically to allow said raised portion to pass over said bead and then to resume substantially its unstressed position to retain the tongue in the groove.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
A panel of the above kind is known per se, in particular from W097/47834, which describes fiber-based high-density or medium-density composite panels having standardized dimensions and a thickness in the order of 8 mm, for example.
Two adjacent panels can be clipped together either by forcing one panel toward the other panel or by turning one panel relative to the other one. In both cases the bottom lip flexes elastically to a sufficient degree to allow the insertion of the tongue into the groove and the raised pattern on the tongue to pass over the bead at the end of the bottom lip.
In the position with two adjacent panels clipped together the section joining the recess to the bead bears elastically on the corresponding section of the raised pattern on the bottom face of the tongue to press the two panels against each other both in the direction perpendicular to the two main faces of the panels and in the direction parallel to said two faces of the panels and contained in a cross-sectional plane, i.e. a plane perpendicular to the respective sides of the panels.
This elastic loading occurring simultaneously in two perpendicular directions is nevertheless unsatisfactory in that the component of this loading in each of the two directions concerned is necessarily a relatively small fraction of the loading force.
What is more, the resulting dry assembly, without glue, would not appear to offer an entirely satisfactory seal against ingress of dust and liquids, in particular water.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The aim of the present invention is therefore to propose a cladding panel of the aforementioned type shaped to create predetermined loads in the aforementioned two directions between two adjacent panels combined with an improved seal against dust and liquids.
In accordance with the present invention, the cladding panel of the aforementioned type is characterized in that, in cross section, the tongue has on its bottom face and the bottom lip of the groove has on its top face, respectively, a second raised portion projecting downward and a complementary second recess shaped so that the second raised portion of the tongue of one panel inter-engages with the second recess of the groove of an adjacent panel when one panel is turned relative to the other, so as to form second means of clipping the tongue into the groove.
The second clipping means create a complementary contact area between the two panels which improves the seal against dust and against liquids.
What is more, the second raised pattern is offset laterally relative to the first raised pattern in a cross-sectional plane of the assembly between the two panels. Accordingly, the contact surfaces respectively corresponding to the two raised patterns and to the two recesses have different orientations which can be chosen to emphasize loading of the two panels toward each other either in the direction perpendicular to the main faces of the two panels or in the other aforementioned direction with the aim of bringing the two panels together parallel to their main faces.
Conversely, the combination of the first and second clipping means greatly increases the resistance of the assembly of two adjacent panels in accordance with the invention to pulling apart parallel to the other aforementioned direction.
In another version, the invention also concerns a cladding assembly for surfaces of the floor, wall or like type made up of adjacent panels assembled together wherein the panels are panels in accordance with the first version of the invention.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the course of the following detailed description.
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Roy Alain
Roy Valerie
Glessner Brian
Stephan Beth A.
Young & Thompson
LandOfFree
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