Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Module or panel having discrete edgewise or face-to-face... – Interfitted integral flange
Reexamination Certificate
2001-06-12
2003-08-05
Friedman, Carl D. (Department: 3635)
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Module or panel having discrete edgewise or face-to-face...
Interfitted integral flange
C052S591100, C052S592100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06601359
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates to a flooring panel or wall panel as set forth in the preamble of claim
1
.
In recent years laminated floor finishes have become increasingly popular in replacing parquet floors and wall-to-wall carpeting. In the production of laminated floor finishes a decorative thermosetting laminate is first produced. This laminate usually consists of a base layer of paper sheets, impregnated with phenol-formaldehyde resin, and a decorative surface layer comprising a decor paper sheet impregnated with melamine formaldehyde resin. The laminate is produced by compressing the various layers at a high pressure and an elevated temperature. The laminate thus obtained may then be bonded to a backing, for example of particle board, or used as such without a backing, it then be termed a compact laminate. The resulting laminated panel of large surface area is then sawn up into a number of floor boards each provided with tongues and grooves at their long and short sides. These floor boards may differ in thickness and size, they more particularly being square or rectangular. A popular length is 120 cm, and a popular with is approx. 20 cm. Such laminated floor finishes may also be used to top existing floor material.
In laying such a floor finish an adhesive cement is usually applied to the groove when the floor boards are assembled. This makes it difficult to replace a board when damaged or to remove the complete floor finish and, for example, reinstalling it in another room.
PRIOR ART
DE 42 42 530 A1 describes a building element for walls or building floors and roofing which comprises at its longitudinal edge a tongue-like element and the opposing longitudinal edge a groove-like molding. The tongue-like element is configured strongly rounded suitable for insertion by jiggling it into the groove-like opening. Provided on one side of the tongue-like element are two ribs suitable for snap-action jointing a single groove of an adjoining building element. As it reads from this disclosure, however, a certain clearance needs to remain, thus resulting in this building element not at all being suitable for floor or wall finishes which for a pleasing appearance need to be joined free of clearance and accordingly with no gaps.
A wall panel or flooring panel as it reads from the preamble of claim
1
is known from WO 96/27721 of the present applicant. The flooring panel described therein comprises a tongue cooperating with a groove in an adjoining panel, the tongue comprising at least one snap-action means in the form of a rib oriented parallel to the edge of the panel. Configured in the groove at suitable locations for cooperating with the ribs of the tongue is a retaining or snap-action groove. It is these snap-action means that enable two adjoining panels to be joined without needing to use an adhesive cement. The one panel with its tongue is inserted into the groove of the adjoining panel, the so-called cheeks defining the groove deforming at least temporarily to permit entry of the rib formed on the tongue and regaining their original shape as soon as each rib has snapped into the corresponding groove. Experience has shown that although such flooring or wall panels permit reliable joining and placement without requiring an adhesive cement there is room for improvement in facilitating laying and the strength in joining the panels to each other.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is based on the object of providing a flooring panel or wall panel in which the snap-action or locking means are improved to facilitate laying and joining the panels whilst always attaining and maintaining a firm joint between adjoining panels.
This object is achieved by the flooring panel or wall panel as set forth in claim
1
.
In accordance therewith the tongue of the panel in accordance with the invention too is provided with locking means. Provided at the opposite side of the panel is a groove into which the tongue of a panel is insertable when two adjoining panels are joined together. The tongue and the groove each comprise complementary snap-action or locking means. In this arrangement it is conceivable that both the tongue and the groove feature snap-action means in the form of ribs. The corresponding other element, i.e. either the tongue or the groove comprises a complementary snap-action means, i.e. a groove configured at a suitable location for each rib provided. As will be detailed later it is preferably within the scope of the invention that the tongue is provided with ribs. More particularly in a preferred embodiment ribs are configured on both the upper and lower side of the tongue, although it is just as conceivable to provide only one of these sides with a rib and the other side of the tongue with a groove. Likewise basically conceivable is to configure a groove on both the upper and lower side of the tongue.
In any case, however, both the upper and lower side of the tongue is provided with a locking means for a flooring panel or wall panel in accordance with the invention, locking means being provided correspondingly on the surface area defining the tongue both upper and lower. In accordance with the invention an additional surface portion formed as a step or bevel is provided on the surface area of the upper and/or lower cheek of the groove facing the groove. It is this aspect that facilitates producing the joint since when inserting the tongue, shifting it in the insertion direction requires little exertion force or may even require none at all. Insertion direction in this context is understood to be the direction in which the tongue is inserted into the groove to join two adjoining panels to each other. The insertion direction thus extends perpendicular to the edge as observed of the panel.
The advantage of the step or bevel in accordance with the invention is that it counteracts any undesirable tendency of the tongue to slip out of place on insertion. When joining the two panels the panel to be added new to the already existing flooring or wall section is first applied with the groove at an angle to the tongue of the desired jointing location and tilted downwards whilst simultaneously exerting pressure on the panel to be added in the insertion direction. Due to the angled surfaces of the tongue and of the surfaces of the groove shaped angled thereto it may often occur that the tongue slips out of place from the groove because of insufficient force being exterted in the insertion direction. This is prevented by a step or bevel in accordance with the invention on one or both cheeks of the grooves since this prevents the tongue from slipping out of place from the groove contrary to the insertion direction either due to a positive connection with the tongue or facilitates the movement of the tongue in the insertion direction into the groove by providing a surface inclined inwards. When bevels widening the groove are provided on one or both cheeks of the groove in the insertion direction it is now possible to join the panels without needing to apply any pressure at all in the insertion direction, i.e. simply jiggling the panel to be joined to an already existing flooring or wall section may be sufficient so that by the effect of the bevel(s) the tongue will always work its way into the groove until the snap-action means is activated.
Preferred further embodiments of the panel in accordance with the invention read from the sub-claims.
Although a panel in accordance with the invention is conceivable in the form of a triangle with a groove or tongue configured on each side, the panel in accordance with the invention preferably has four sides and is more particularly rectangular or square. In this case two sides of the panel comprise tongues and two sides of the panel comprise grooves. It is understood that, as preferred, the panels may be configured identical and can be joined to each other in this way when the opposite side in each case is provided tongued and grooved so that two adjoining sides, in the case of a rectangular panel a short and a long side, are provided with to
Friedman Carl D.
Pergo (Europe) AB
Slack Naoko
Stevens Davis Miller & Mosher L.L.P.
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