CA2425064A1 - Grooved laths and self-catching tabs for forming floors and method for machining said laths - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns laths (1, 1') with grooved longitudinal edges capable of being interlocked to form a floor. The invention is characterised in that the laths comprise on their right a groove (3) arranged substantially perpendicular to the surface of the lath, comprising an indentation (5) on t he side of the groove opposite to the lateral edge of the lath and parallel bevels (7, 9) oriented towards said lath edge and arranged more or less at 4 5 degrees relative to the sides of the groove, which co-operate when installed with a protuberance (19) of the left of the lath, matching in shape said groove (3), enabling through the bevels (7, 9) the protuberance (19) to be inserted at an angle of about 45 degrees into the groove (3) and enabling by simple pressure to interlock two successive laths.

Description

GROOVED LATHS AND SELF-CATCHING TABS IN PARTICULAR FOR
FORMING FLOORS AND METHOD FOR MACHINING SUCH LATHS
Subject of the invention [0001] The present invention relates to laths, i.e_ laths in the proper sense of the word as well as blades or panels, with grooved and tabbed longitudinal edges that can easily be interlocked in order to form floors, panellings, etc.
Technological background and state of the art [0002] Numerous devices and systems intended to provide easy laying of floor elements through clip-on mounting on their respective lateral edges of individual elements having the shape of laths or blades of any kind (solid wood, laminated sheets, synthetic materials, etc.) are already known.

[0003) As an example of the systems meeting this definition, the following documents may be mentioned.

[0004] Document WO OOj20705 implies the use of a separate connecting element.

(0005] Document WO 00/20706 equally implies a connecting element provided with deformable lips.

[0006] Document EP-0 843 763-A describes a system in which the co-operating coupling elements are arranged at the level of the edges of both opposing sides of the laths and which is characterised by incorporated mechanical locking means.

(0007] German patent application DE-19933343.2 provides for elements forming a spring and penetrating into a groove of the adjacent plate.

[0008] Other devices of the same type are described in these documents. One feature of the various existing systems without additional connecting elements is the fact that the clip-on mounting is performed by a simultaneous forward and rotating movement thus leading to the mechanical locking.

[0009] Thus, Document DE-U-7928703 presents a systemthat is similar to the present invention but requires, however, a rotating movement in order to allow two laths matching in shape to be anchored together. Simple interlocking at an angle of about 45 degrees as disclosed in the present invention is thus not possible.
Aims of this invention [0009] The present invention particularly aims to improve the existing assembly techniques, more particularly to simplify the profiles of the grooves and tabs made on the laths, especially by reducing the necessary machining operations while ensuring easy laying and providing effective locking.

[0010] The present invention especially aims at a configuration of profiles which allows direct interlocking through simple, successive pressures of the various laths without any rotating movement.

[0011] In order to facilitate the machining operations of the edges of the various .boards, special attention has been paid to ensure the easiest possible points of access of the various tools.

[0012] The purpose of this invention is preferably achieved by simultaneous machining of both opposing edges (sides) in a limited number of steps, while allowing at least some of the steps to be easily performed in a semi-continuous way without having to basically modify the position of the machining tools. The invention especially aims to keep the tools perpendicular to the surface of the laths for most operations.
Characteristic elements of the invention [0013] The invention is based on the fact that a groove essentially perpendicular to the surfaces of the Lath is made on an edge of the lath with bevels at 45 degrees, and that, during assembly, this groove co-operates with a matching element in the shape of a protuberance provided on the opposite edge of an adjacent lath.

[0014] Other details and additional features of the invention will be clearer when reading the preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to the attached drawings and claims.
Brief description of the figures [0015] Figure 1 represents a cross-section view of the edge-to-edge assembly of two successive laths.

[0016] Figures 2, 3 and 4 represent the right-hand profile of a lath undergoing three successive machining operations (steps).

[0017] Figures 5 and 6 represent two successive machining steps for the left-hand profile of a lath.

[0018] In Figures 2 to 6, the shape and the connection plane of the tools are shown with thick lines, while the piece being machined is represented by continuous lines for the final shape, which is intended after the completion of the various machining steps for the profile in question.

[0019] The shape of the piece undergoing the specific machining step is represented with a dotted line.

[0020] In these drawings, the laths are conventionally represented in their position as laid to form a floor. The edge on one side is conventionally called the right-hand profile and the other edge is called the left-hand profile .

[0021] These profiles are shaped, i.e. machined, in such a way that the right-hand profile of one lath can receive the left-hand profile of the following lath through traditional clip-on mounting.
Detailed description of the invention [0022] The essential feature of the assembly according to the present invention is the fact that the machining operations are performed in such a way that the lath, before interlocking into the preceding and already laid lath, can be brought into a plane that is parallel to its neighbour and can then be interlocked without undue deformation through pressure oriented at more or less 45°
degrees downwards by leading the lath that has just been interlocked onto the same plane and level with the one previously laid.

[0023] This is made possible since the first side of lath l, shown on Figures 2 to 4 and in the shape of the right-hand profile, comprises from bottom to top a groove 3, that is turned upwards and perpendicular to the surfaces of lath 1 and comprises an indentation 5 on the side opposite the lateral edge of the lath, this indentation 5 ending in a bevel 7 turned towards the lateral edge at an angle of approximately 45 degrees. A bevel 9 that is parallel to the bevel 7 is provided on the opposite side of groove 3.

[0024] The bevel 9 extends right up to the end of the edge by a flat surface 11.

[0025] The mentioned indentation 5 is made in the body of the lath and extends (upwards) after the bevel 7 with an approximately right-angle cut 12 having in turn a small indentation 13. Other shapes may be chosen for this top part.

[0026) The opposite profile, called the left-hand profile, which is represented for an adjacent lath in Figure 1, is matching in shape the one previously described, a protuberance 19 being provided in order to fit into the groove 3.

[0027] In Figures 2 to 6, the shape of the tools 21, 23, 25, 27 and 29 used for the various steps of the right-hand and left-hand profiles is shown.

[0028] It should be noted that the working position of the tools has been shown according to the laying direction of the lath to form a floor; however, in order to perform the machining operation, other tool positions may obviously also be chosen, which means that the piece to be machined must be set in a position matching the tool.

[0029] It will be noted that, except for the operation shown on Figure 4, the tools work at a right angle relative to the top and bottom surfaces of the laths.

[0030] The operation performed on Figure 4 is the only one achieved at an angle of approximately 45 degrees relative to the surface of the laths.

[0031] It will also be noted how the number of operations is particularly reduced, how the shapes of the tools are relatively simple, and how the different steps can be performed by means of traditional machinery of the milling/cutting type.

[0032] Machining can of course be simultaneously carried out on both edges of the raw lath.

[0033] Additional finishing operations (deburring, varnishing, etc.) are of course possible within the scope of the invention.

[0034] The presence of the bevels 7 and 9 allows to introduce the protuberance 19 of the left-hand profile of the lath to be laid, by placing it on a plane parallel to the right-hand profile of the preceding lath, and the lath is simply interlocked by pressing along an angle of about 45 degrees.

[0035] As can be seen from the drawings, if the left-hand profile of the lath 1' is matching in shape the right-hand profile of the preceding lath 1, some leeway (see figure 1) must be left in order to facilitate interlocking.
Suitable tolerance is provided in order to allow the easy introduction of the groove and protuberance in the approximate position at 45 degrees of the lath to be laid relative to the preceding lath, and then to allow interlocking.

Claims (2)

1. Laths (1,1') with grooved longitudinal edges capable of being interlocked in order to form a floor, comprising on a longitudinal edge, called right-hand profile, a groove (3) and on the opposite edge, called left-hand profile, a protuberance (19) matching in shape said groove (3), said groove being machined and comprising an indentation (5) on the side of the groove opposite the lateral edge of the lath and parallel bevels (7, 9) oriented toward the edge of said lath and arranged approximately at 45 degrees relative to the sides of the groove, which co-operate during assembly with the protuberance (19) of the left-hand profile of the adjacent lath in the use position, characterised in that said protuberance (19) can be inserted at an angle of about 45 degrees into the groove (3) by means of the bevels (7, 9), by simple downwards pressure and without undue deformation, thus bringing the two successive laths in a same plane.

2. Laths according to claim 1, characterised in that the left-hand and right-hand profiles of the laths are extending upwards of the area comprising said groove (3) in the shape of an interlocking in complementary steps, ending in a flat joint without gaps between the top surfaces.