DE202007019541U1 - Mechanical locking of floor panels by vertical folding - Google Patents

Abstract

A locking system for the short edges for vertically and horizontally locking adjacent edges of two similar floor panels that allow locking by vertical folding or vertical locking, characterized in that the locking system has edges with a strip (6), a locking element (8) and a locking groove (14) for horizontally locking the adjacent edge and for vertically locking the adjacent edges, comprises a flexible spring (30) of a separate material connected to an edge of the panel, the flexible spring (30) comprising two flexible parts, an inner flexible member (62) disposed in an inner portion of a groove (40) and an outer flexible member (61) configured to be disposed in an outer portion of the groove, the outer flexible member (61) extends vertically upwards and downwards.

Description

Field of the invention

The invention generally relates to the field of floor panels with mechanical locking systems by means of a flexible and displaceable tongue, which allows easy laying. The invention provides new locking systems.

Background of the invention

In particular, but not by way of limitation, the invention relates to a mechanical locking system for long and short edge rectangular floor panels. It should be emphasized that "long edges" and "short edges" are merely used to facilitate writing. The panels can also be square. However, the invention is equally applicable to building panels in general. In particular, the invention relates to the type of mechanical connection systems which enable all four edges of a panel to be locked to other panels by a single angling operation with other panels, and a flexible or partially flexible tongue and / or sliding tongue and / or have a flexible locking strip to facilitate the laying of building panels.

A floor panel of this genus is in the WO 2006/043893 described which discloses a floor panel with a locking system having a locking member cooperating with a locking groove for locking in the horizontal direction, and having a tongue groove cooperating flexible tongue for locking in a vertical direction. The flexible tongue bends during the joining of the floor panels in the horizontal plane and makes it possible to lay the panels by vertical folding or by vertical movement alone. "Vertical folding" refers to joining three panels, with a first panel and a second panel joined together, and with a single angling operation of a new panel called a "drop-down panel" joining two vertical edges of the new panel at the same time with the first and second panels Panel connects. Such bonding occurs, for example, when a long edge of the first panel in a first row is already connected to a long edge of a second panel in a second row. The new flaps panel is then connected by twisting to the long edge of the first panel in the first row. This specific type of Verwinkelungsvorgang, which also connects the short edge of the new folding panel with the second panel is referred to herein as "vertical folding". The first row laying system, which is intended to be locked by vertical folding, is often connected by vertical locking, with one short edge bent vertically downwards towards another short edge. The other rows are connected by vertical folding. It is also possible to connect a floor completely by connecting a row by vertical locking. The whole series is then connected by twisting with a previously laid row.

Similar floor panels are also in the WO 2003/016654 which discloses a locking system comprising a spring with a flexible tab. The spring extends and bends substantially in a vertical direction and the front end of the tab cooperates with a spring groove for vertical locking.

• a) Die Kanten eines neuen Bodenpanels müssen in Kontakt gebracht werden, mit einem ersten, auf dem Boden liegenden Panel und die lange Kante des neuen Panels muss in einer angewinkelten Position auf das erste Panel zu gedrückt werden.
• b) Das neue Panel muss in der gedrückten und nach oben angewinkelten Position seitlich gegen eine kurze Kante eines zweiten auf dem Boden liegenden Panels gepresst werden, um den Gegendruck der Feder entgegenzuwirken.
• c) Das neue Panel muss schließlich nach unten gegen den Boden verwinkelt werden und der Vorwärts- und Seitwärtsdruck muss während des Verwinkelungsvorganges aufrecht erhalten werden.

Vertical interlocking and vertical folding of this type create a separation pressure at the short ends when the flexible spring or flexible parts of the spring are horizontally displaced during the entanglement of the long edges. The inventor has analyzed various types of floor panels and found that there is a considerable risk that the short ends will be pushed away from each other during laying and that a gap may occur between the edge portions of the short edges. Such a gap could prevent further laying and it would no longer be possible to connect the floor panels together. A gap could also cause serious damage to the locking system at the short edges. Moving the floorboards laterally towards the short edges during installation could prevent the gap. However, such a transferring method is complicated and difficult to apply because three operations should be combined with each other and simultaneously performed in conjunction with the downward twisting of the long edges, as described below.

• a) The edges of a new floor panel must be brought into contact with a first panel lying on the floor and the long edge of the new panel must be pressed in an angled position towards the first panel.
• b) The new panel must be pressed sideways in the depressed and upwardly angled position against a short edge of a second panel lying on the floor to counteract the back pressure of the spring.
• c) Finally, the new panel must be bent down against the ground and the forward and sideways pressure must be maintained during the cambering process.

The inventor has found that separation and installation problems often occur when the Panels have a small thickness and small compact locking systems on the long edges or if the panel core has a material with smooth surfaces, such as the high-density fiberboard (HDF).

Such problems can also occur when the panels are short or in connection with laying the first or last panel in each row, because such laying is usually done with panels cut to a shorter length to move the floor to the position of the panel Wall to adapt. Separation problems, of course, are extremely difficult to cope with in any type of panel that uses locking systems with a strong, flexible spring that causes considerable horizontal separation pressure during vertical folding. Such strong springs are very important for many applications where high quality vertical connection is required, and panels with such flexible springs are very difficult to lay using known routing techniques.

The invention aims to solve separation problems in floor coverings intended to be laid by means of vertical folding or vertical locking.

Definition of some terms

In the following text, the visible surface of the laid floor panel is referred to as "top", whereas the opposite side of the floor panel facing the floor is referred to as "back". The edge between the top and the back is referred to as a "tie edge". By "horizontal plane" is meant a plane which extends parallel to the outer part of the surface layer. Immediately opposite upper portions of two adjacent joint edges of two interconnected floor panels together define a "vertical plane" perpendicular to the horizontal plane.

By "connection" or "locking system" is meant cooperating connection means which connect the floor panels vertically and / or horizontally together. "Mechanical locking system" means that the connection can be made without the aid of adhesive. Mechanical locking systems can in some cases be combined with adhesive. "Integrated with" means integrally formed with the panel or already connected to the panel during manufacture.

By "flexible spring" is meant a separate spring which has a longitudinal extent along the connecting edges and which forms part of the vertical locking system and can be displaced horizontally at least partially during locking. For example, the whole spring may be bendable or may have flexible and elastic parts that can be bent to a locked position, or which may be bent and then spring back to their original position.

By "bending" is meant a connection which occurs by a rotational movement during which an angular change occurs between two parts to be joined or separated from each other. When angling refers to the joining of two floor panels, the angular movement occurs such that the upper parts of joint edges at least partially contact each other during at least part of the movement. "Angled locking system" refers to a mechanical locking system that can be connected vertically and horizontally by angling and includes a spring and a groove that locks two adjacent edges in a vertical direction, and a locking strip with a locking element on an edge of a panel is referred to as a "strip panel" and cooperates with a locking groove on another edge of a panel, referred to as a "groove panel," and locks the edges in a horizontal direction. The locking element and the locking groove generally have rounded guide surfaces which guide the locking element into the locking groove, as well as locking surfaces which effect locking and prevent horizontal separation between the edges.

"Installation angle" is understood to mean the commonly used angle between two panels that are in the initial stage of an angular laying when a panel is in an upwardly skewed position and its upper edge abuts against the top edge of another panel flat on the floor , The laying angle is generally about 25 degrees and in this position there are only two contact points between the strip panel and the groove panel. In very special cases where there are more than two contact points between the connectors, the installation angle may be more than 25 degrees.

"Three-point contact angle" means the angle between two panels during angling when there are at least three points of contact between parts of the locking system.

The term "contact angle" is understood to mean the angle of the hinged panel when the short edge a panel is brought into initial contact with the part of the flexible spring which is to be moved horizontally and which is actively involved in the vertical locking at the short edges.

By "guide angle" is meant the angle between two floor panels during bending when guide surfaces of the locking element on the locking strip and / or on the locking groove are in contact with each other or with the upper part of the locking element or with the lower part of the locking groove. Guide surfaces are often rounded or bevelled parts which, during angling, urge the top edges of the panels toward one another and facilitate the insertion of the locking element into the locking groove. Most known locking systems have a guide angle of about 5 degrees.

"Locking Angle" refers to the angle between two floor panels in an end stage of an articulation operation wherein the active locking surfaces on the locking member and the locking groove are in initial contact contact with each other. Most locking systems have locking angles of about 3 degrees or less.

By \ "friction angle \" is meant the angle when friction along long edges increases significantly from an angle of deployment during angling because more than two points of contact are active in a twist lock system and disengage shifting along the long edges.

By "spring pressure" is meant the pressure in N when a spring is in a predetermined position. By "maximum spring pressure" is meant the pressure of the spring when it is in the inner position when folded vertically, and "spring bias" means the spring pressure in the locked position when the spring presses against a portion of the spring groove.

Summary of the invention

The present invention relates to a set of floor panels or a floating floor with a mechanical locking system which improves the laying of floor panels laid by means of vertical folding and which counteracts or prevents separation of the short edges during installation.

The invention is based on a first idea in that such separation problems are mainly associated with the locking system at the long edges. All known locking systems which are used to lock panels together by angling are very easy to translate along the connection when the floor panels are in an initially angular position relative to each other. The friction increases considerably at a small angle when the floor panels are almost in the locked position. This means that the friction between the long edges is insufficient to prevent displacement of the short edges in the initial stage of vertical folding when the angle is large and when a portion of the flexible spring has to be pressed horizontally to allow vertical folding , The friction between long edges will increase at a small angle in most locking systems, but this is a drawback because the short edges may already be separated from each other and the short edge locking system is incapable of friction at a small angle overcome and contract the short edges. The separation complicates routing because the panels must be angled and squeezed sideways during installation and there is a considerable risk of damaging the short edge latch system.

The main object of the invention is to solve the separation problem between the short edges by, in contrast to the prior art, increasing the friction between the long edges when the long edges are in an angled position and before assuming their final locking position. The increased friction between the long edges may counteract or even prevent displacement along the connection of the long edges during vertical folding as the flexible spring forces the floor panels away from each other and may counteract or even completely prevent separation of the short edges during such linings.

Secondly, the invention is based on the recognition that the combined function of the long edge locking system and the short edge locking system is essential to a floor intended to be laid by vertical folding. Long edge and short edge locking systems should be tuned to each other to ensure easy, lightweight and durable installation.

The invention provides novel embodiments of long and short edge locking systems according to various aspects, each of which provides advantages. Areas of use for the invention are floor panels of any shape and any material, for example laminate, in particular panels with surface materials containing hardenable synthetic resins, wood, HDF, veneer or stone.

The invention comprises, according to a first principle, long edge floor panels having an interlocking system at an angle greater than technologies known in the art, and counteracting displacement along the connection when panels are connected together by vertical folding.

According to one embodiment of the first principle, the invention provides a set of substantially identical floor panels each having long and short edges and provided with first and second connectors integrally formed with the floor panels. The connectors are designed to connect adjacent edges together. The first connector includes a locking strip having an upwardly directed locking member on one edge of the floor panel and a downwardly facing open locking groove on an adjacent edge of another floor panel to interconnect the adjacent edges horizontally in a direction perpendicular to the adjacent edges. The second connector includes a spring on one edge of the floor panel, which is horizontal perpendicular to the edge, and a horizontally open tongue groove in another floor panel for connecting the adjacent edges in the vertical direction. The connectors on the long edges are designed to be locked by angling and the connectors on the short edges are designed to be locked by vertical folding. A long edge of a new panel in a second row is designed to be connected to the long edge of a first panel in a first row by angling. A short edge of the new panel and a short edge of a second panel in a second row are designed to be connected to the same bending operation. The long edge connectors have at least three separate contact points or contact surfaces between adjacent portions of the connectors when the new panel is pressed with its upper edge against the upper edge of the first panel at an angle to the major plane of at least 10 degrees.

Because the bottom panel is provided according to the first principle of the invention with long edges, which have three contact points at a bend angle of 10 degrees, a considerable friction between the long edges is caused and this friction counteracts or prevents displacement of the short edges, which the pressure of the spring during vertical folding is caused. The advantage that the flexible spring can be formed and positioned on the short edge, with an initial point of contact which is close to the long edge, for example at a distance of about 15 mm from the long edge, resulting in vertical locking over one considerable length of the short edge.

Improved deployability may be achieved in some embodiments when the three-point contact angle is greater than 10 degrees, preferably 15 degrees or more. In other embodiments, more than 18 or even more than 20 degrees is required to obtain ease of deployment.

According to a second principle of the invention, the position and shape of a preferably flexible spring on the short edge and the locking system on the long edge are such that the friction increases along the long edges when the panel is angled downwards from a transfer angle to a contact angle when the flexible spring comes into initial contact with the adjacent short edge because of the vertical folding operation, and if further bending causes a first flexible edge of the flexible spring to horizontally displace and cause horizontal separation pressure on the short edges.

According to one embodiment of this second principle, the invention provides a set of substantially identical floor panels, each having long and short edges, and provided with first and second connectors integrally formed with the floor panels. The connectors are designed to connect adjacent edges together. The first connector includes a connecting strip having an upward locking element on one edge of a floor panel and a downwardly facing, open locking groove on an adjacent edge of another floor panel to connect the adjacent edges horizontally in a direction perpendicular to the adjacent edges. The second connector includes a spring at one edge of a floor panel extending horizontally perpendicular to the edge and a horizontal open tongue groove in an adjacent edge of another floor panel for interconnecting the adjacent edges in the vertical direction. The connectors on the long edges are designed to be locked by twisting and the connectors on the short edge are designed to be locked by vertical folding. A long edge of a new panel in a second row is designed to work with a long edge of a first panel in a first Row to be connected by angling. A short edge of the new panel and a short edge of a second panel in a second row are designed to be connected by the same cambering motion. The tongue at the short edges is made of a separate material, is connected to a connecting groove and has a flexible portion at an edge region which is arranged as close as possible to the long edge of the first panel. The edge portion is designed to be horizontally displaced during folding and to cooperate with the spring groove of an adjacent short edge to lock the floor panels together in a vertical direction. The first and second connectors at the long edges are designed such that a frictional force along the long edges is less at an installation angle than at a contact angle when the panels are pressed against each other with the same compressive force with the upper joint edges in contact. The transfer angle is 25 degrees and the contact angle is a smaller angle corresponding to an initial contact between the edge portion and the adjacent short edge.

The increased friction between the long edges at the contact angle can be achieved in many other ways, for example by increasing the pressure between contact points and / or by increasing the contact areas at the contact points between the first and second connections and / or by increasing the contact points of FIG on 3 or from 3 to 4.

According to a third principle of the invention, a locking system with friction members is provided at the long edges such that the friction along the long edges in an angled position is high when only two contact points are provided between the connectors and the long edges.

According to one embodiment of this third principle, the invention provides a set of substantially identical floor panels, each having long and short edges, provided with first and second connectors integrally formed with the floor panels. The connectors are designed to connect adjacent edges together. The first connector includes a locking strip having an upward locking element on one edge of a floor panel and a downwardly opening locking groove on an adjacent edge of another floor panel to connect the adjacent edges horizontally in a direction perpendicular to the adjacent edges. The second connector includes a spring at one edge of a floor panel that extends horizontally perpendicular to the edge, and a horizontally open tongue groove in an adjacent edge of another floor panel to connect the adjacent edges in the vertical direction. The connectors on the long edges are designed to be locked by angling and the connectors on the short edge are designed to be locked by vertical folding. A long edge of a new panel in a second row is designed to be connected to a long edge of a first panel in a first row by angling. A short edge of the new panel and a short edge of a second panel in a second row are designed to be connected by the same canting motion. The spring at the short ends is made of a separate material, is connected to a connecting groove and has a flexible portion which is designed to be horizontally displaced during folding and to cooperate with the tongue groove of an adjacent short edge to interconnect the floor panels to lock in the vertical direction. The first and second connectors on the long edges include friction members configured to increase friction along the long edges when the panels are at an angle to each other where there are only two points of contact between the first and second connectors.

The friction members may or may not be active at a smaller angle if there are three or more contact points in the locking system.

The third principle offers the advantage that the friction in the long edges can be high even at a large angle, for example at the laying angle, and this can be used in conjunction with a laying method in which an edge of the flexible spring is displaced by the displacement of the flexible spring long edge is compressed during an initial phase of the vertical unfolding, as in the 4b and 4c shown. The friction member prevents or impedes displacement along the long edges and separation of the short edges during vertical folding.

Such friction members may include mechanically molded devices, such as. B. formed by rotating tools or pressure wheels projections on parts of the locking system, for example on the spring and / or the locking strip. They may have chemicals or small particles used in the locking system to increase friction along the long edges.

According to a fourth principle of the invention is a floor panel system with a Locking system has been provided on the long and short edges, wherein the floor panels can be locked together by vertical folding and the position, the shape and the material properties of a preferably flexible spring on the short edge is combined with a long edge locking system comprising connectors, which allows a floor panel cut to a length of 20 cm to be connected to another panel in the same row by vertical folding, the friction between the long edges preventing the short edges from separating.

According to one embodiment of this fourth principle, a set of substantially identical floor panels is provided, each having long and short edges, and provided with first and second connectors formed integrally with the floor panels. The connectors are designed to connect adjacent edges together. The first connector includes a locking strip having an upward locking element on one edge of a floor panel and a downwardly opening locking groove on an adjacent edge of the other floor panel for connecting the adjacent edges horizontally in a direction perpendicular to the adjacent edges. The second connector includes a tongue on one edge of a floor panel extending horizontally perpendicular to the edge, and a horizontally open tongue groove in an adjacent edge of another floor panel for connecting the adjacent edges in the vertical direction. The connectors on the long edges are designed to be locked by angling and the connectors on the short edge are configured to be locked by vertical folding. A long edge of a new panel in a second row is configured to be connected to a long edge of a first panel in a first row by angling. A short edge of the new panel and a short edge of a second panel in a second row are configured to be connected together by the same angular motion. The tongue at the short edges consists of a separate material connected to a connecting groove and has a flexible portion which is designed to be displaced horizontally during folding and to engage with the spring groove of an adjacent short edge in locking the floor panels together in a vertical manner Direction to cooperate. The connectors on long and short edges are designed so that the second and new panels, with one of these panels cut to a length of about 20 cm, will not be displaced from the other panel when the panels are in their contact position at a laying angle and during vertical folding.

The fourth principle offers the advantages that floor panels can be laid with such a locking system with high precision and that a separation of the short edges does not occur, even if the panels are cut in small pieces and laid as the first or last panels in a row. A separation of a few 0.01 mm may be sufficient to create problems and undesirable gaps which may be visible in a floor surface or through which moisture may enter the connection.

• a) Bringen einer langen Kante eines abgewinkelten neuen Panels in Kontakt mit dem oberen Abschnitt einer langen Kante des ersten Panels, und
• b) Bringen einer kurzen Kante eines neuen Panels in Kontakt mit einer kurzen Kante des zweiten Panels, wobei das neue Panel durch das Verriegelungssystem an den langen und/oder kurzen Kanten in dieser Position gehalten wird,
• c) Pressen eines Kurzkantenabschnittes des neuen Panels nach unten in Richtung auf den Untergrund und dadurch Verbinden des ersten, zweiten und dritten Panels miteinander durch vertikales Abklappen.

The second object of the invention is to provide floor panels that can be connected by vertical folding. The panels have a development locking system on the long edges and a vertical folding system on the short edges for vertical and horizontal locking of the panels, with a first and a second panel lying flat on a substrate with their long edges joined together the following steps include:

• a) Bringing a long edge of an angled new panel in contact with the upper portion of a long edge of the first panel, and
• b) bringing a short edge of a new panel into contact with a short edge of the second panel, the new panel being held in that position by the locking system at the long and / or short edges,
• c) pressing a short edge portion of the new panel down in the direction of the ground and thereby connecting the first, second and third panels together by vertical folding.

This routing allows bottom panels to be held in an upwardly angled position, such as the upper portion of a locking element and the lower portion of a locking groove. This simplifies laying because the tiler can change his hand position from placing a panel in a laying angle and then into a position suitable for pressing the short edge portion of that panel down toward the ground. The advantage is that the combined effects of compressing the top edges at an angle, pushing the panels sideways to avoid separating the short edges and folding the panel down against the ground can be avoided, and is replaced by three separate and independent operations.

A third object of the invention is to provide a new locking system or combinations of locking systems which can be used on the long and / or short edges and which in particular designed are to reduce the separation problems. Of course, these locking systems can be used separately to connect any type of floorboard or panel type to short and / or long edges.

According to a first aspect of this third aspect, there is provided a flexible spring having two flexible portions, namely, an inner flexible portion provided in an inner portion of a sliding groove and an outer flexible portion provided in the outer portion of the sliding groove wherein the spring interlocks with a spring groove on an adjacent edge of the other panel. The inner region is preferably more flexible than the outer region and may preferably be displaced to a greater extent than the outer, more rigid region which vertically interlocks the panels. The invention makes it possible to combine strength and low resistance to displacement.

According to a second aspect of this third object, a short edge locking system is combined with a preferably flexible spring with a compact spring locking system which can be locked by angling. Such a locking system is highly efficient and the geometry is advantageous and can be used to design a locking system which develops considerable friction along the long edge during angling. Such a spring lock can replace the long edge locking system with a protruding strip in all the principles and methods described above. This embodiment of the invention has a first connector having a spring with an upward locking member on an upper portion of the spring at an edge of the bottom panel, and a second connector having a downwardly extending locking groove which engages in an undercut spring groove an adjacent edge of another floor panel is arranged to connect the adjacent edges horizontally and vertically. The connectors on the long edges are also designed in this embodiment so that they can be locked by bending and the connectors on the short edge are designed so that they are locked by vertical folding. By way of example, according to the first principle, the connectors of the long edges have at least three separate contact points or contact surfaces between adjacent parts of the connectors when the new panel with its upper edge against the upper edge of the first panel at an angle to the main plane of is pressed at least 10 degrees.

According to a third aspect of this third object, there is provided a short edge locking system having a preferably flexible tongue which prevents or obstructs shifting of the long edges during vertical folding. The locking system comprises, as described above, a strip with a locking element and a separate flexible spring in a strip panel, a spring groove and a locking groove in the hinged panel. The locking surface of the locking groove is substantially vertical and parallel to the vertical plane VP and preferably has a height which is at least 0.1 times the floor thickness. The locking system is advantageously designed so that the locking element is in contact with its upper surface of the locking surface with the lower portion of the locking surface of the locking groove in a locking angle, wherein there are no contacts between the Abblapppanel and the flexible spring. The substantially vertical locking surface prevents separation when the spring is in contact with the flap panel during further bending. A part of the locking surface is arranged in a preferred embodiment on a projection and in a recess.

It is obvious that two or more or even all of the principles described above can be combined with each other and that all embodiments of locking systems described in this application can be combined in combinations or independently to connect long and / or short edges. The drawings are merely used to show examples of different embodiments which may be used in various combinations on long and short edges of the same panel type or different types of panels to be interconnected. All locking systems on long and / or short edges of a panel may be integrally formed with the core or may comprise separate materials, such as. B. a separate spring and / or a separate strip, which may be integrally formed with the bottom panel or connected during installation. The locking groove and / or the tongue groove may consist of separate materials. This means that the invention also includes integral locking systems at the short edges, where parts of the locking system, such. For example, the spring and / or the strip and / or the locking element are flexible and preferably comprise wood fiber based material, for example HDF, and which can be locked by vertical folding provided that such locking systems develop a separation force during locking. A separate wood fiber Material may also be permanently bonded to the panel edge by, for example, adhesive, and may be incorporated into a locking system in the same manner as a one-piece system described above.

The invention is useful for all types of floor coverings. However, it is particularly suitable for short panels of, for example, 40-120 cm in which the friction along the long edges is low, for wide panels with a width of more than 20 cm, because the flexible spring is long and causes extensive spring pressure, and for panels with, for example, a core of HDF, compact laminate or plastic materials and the like, in which the friction is low, because of very smooth and low-friction surfaces in the locking system. The invention is also useful for thin panels, for example 6-9 mm thick, more preferably thinner than 8 mm thick and less, and especially for such panels with compact locking systems on the long edges, for example with locking strips of less than 6 mm, because Such floor panels and such locking systems have small contact surfaces with low friction.

Several advantages can be achieved with a floorboard system configured in accordance with one or more of the principles described above. A first advantage is that the laying can be done easily and no lateral pressure must be applied during installation to prevent the floorboards from separating along the short edges. A second advantage is that the risk of edge separation, which can lead to cracks in the locking system during folding, is considerably reduced. A third advantage is that locking systems can be formed with stronger and stronger springs which are able to lock the panels vertically with higher strength and considerable spring bias. Such springs with substantially maximum spring pressure and preload pressure in the locked state produce high separation forces during vertical folding. A fourth advantage is that the flexible spring can be positioned close to the long edge and that a reliable locking function can be obtained despite the fact that such a flexible spring will produce a separation pressure at a rather high contact angle.

A measurement of initial contact friction and misalignment should be made according to the following principles. The contact angle of a new floorboard and first floorboard should be measured when a first edge portion of the flexible spring active in the vertical latch is in first contact with the short edge during the initial stage of the vertical folding operation. The contact friction along the longitudinal edge of a 200 mm specimen should be measured at this contact angle when the panels are pressed against each other with a normal laying pressure of 10N. The laying friction should be measured by the same method with a laying angle of 25 degrees. The contact friction should be at least about 50% higher than the laying pressure.

Friction members comprising mechanical means such as protrusions, brushed fibers, scraped edges and the like are easily recognized in a locking system. Chemicals are more difficult.

Another method should be used to measure increased friction as a result of friction members, if it is not clear and obvious that mechanical equipment, chemicals, impregnations, coatings, discrete materials, etc. have been used to reduce the friction between floorboards in one Increase installation angle. A new locking system of essentially the same design as the original specimen should be made from the same original floor panels and core materials. The friction should be measured at the same installation angle and pressure, and the friction between the two specimens, the original specimen and the new specimen, should be compared. Of course, this test procedure assumes that the entire core does not contain any friction enhancing material.

A variety of HDF-based floor panels have been tested on the market and the result is that one specimen with a 200 mm long edge pressed against another long edge at a pressure of 10 N at an angle of 25 degrees Generally has a friction of about 10 N or less. This is too low to prevent shifting of the short edges during vertical folding. Friction members can increase the friction considerably.

The contact angle is defined as the angle of the new panel when an edge is in initial contact with the portion of the flexible spring that is to be displaced and is active in the vertical fold down. For example, there could be projections on the edge of the spring which do not cause any appreciable horizontal pressure during vertical folding. Such projections and similar devices should not be considered as part of the flexible spring.

All references to "one, one, the, the, [the element, device, component, member, step, etc.]" are to be interpreted as referring to at least one implementation of the element, device, component, member, step etc., unless expressly stated otherwise.

Brief description of the drawings

1a -D illustrate a locking system according to the prior art,

2a Figure-b show a prior art flexible spring during the locking process;

3a Figure 3b shows a floor panel with a prior art mechanical locking system on a short edge;

4a -D show how short corners of two prior art floor panels can be locked by vertical folding,

5a 10 show embodiments of short-edge locking systems which can be used in connection with the invention,

6a C show displaceable springs in embodiments according to the invention,

7a -D show a separation of panels during vertical folding in a 3D representation,

8a -D show the separation pressure of the spring on the short corner during laying,

9a -O show in large quantities on the market used locking systems and contact points between surfaces in these systems at different angles during installation by Verwinklung,

10a Figures 10c show embodiments of the long edge locking system with a friction angle of 10 degrees according to the invention,

11a 5c show embodiments of the long edge locking system with a friction angle of 15 degrees according to the invention,

12a C show long-edge and short-edge locking systems and the position of a flexible spring according to embodiments of the invention,

13a Figure d show embodiments of the panel position at the contact angle.

14a Figure -d show the position of the flexible spring in relation to the long corner according to embodiments of the invention,

15a C show an embodiment with friction members according to the invention,

16a FIG. 2 d show a method for determining the frictional forces at different angles according to embodiments of the invention, FIG.

17a C show alternative embodiments with three contact points according to the invention,

18a C show further alternative embodiments with three contact points according to the invention,

19a C show further alternative embodiments with two and three friction generating contact points according to the invention,

20a C show alternative embodiments with four contact points at an angle of 20 degrees according to the invention,

21a -D show a flexible spring with two flexible sections,

22a C show the laying of panels with a flexible spring according to the invention,

23a -B show a spring locking system,

24a Figure 1 shows a locking system which can be used in the invention,

25a C show methods for determining contact points,

26a Figure-d show embodiments of the invention with vertically locking surfaces.

27a C show locking systems on long and short edges according to the invention.

Description of embodiments of the invention

The 1 - 6 and the accompanying descriptions which follow describe known embodiments and are used to explain the main principles of the invention and to show examples of embodiments which may be used within the scope of the invention. The Illustrated embodiments are only examples. It should be emphasized that all types of flexible springs and one-piece springs that can be used in a locking system that permits vertical folding and / or vertical locking can be used and useful parts of this description form part of the present invention.

With reference to 1a -D becomes a floor panel 1 . 1' described in the prior art, which is provided with a mechanical locking system and a displaceable spring.

1a schematically shows a cross section through a connection between a Kurzckenverbindungskante 4a a panel 1 and an opposite corner connecting edge 4b a second panel 1' ,

The tops of the panels are positioned substantially in a common horizontal plane HP and the upper areas 21 . 41 the connecting edges 4a . 4b collide against each other in a vertical plane VP. The mechanical locking system allows locking panels relative to each other in the vertical direction D1 as well as in the horizontal direction D2.

In order to connect the two connecting edges in directions D1 and D2, the edges of the floor panel have a locking strip in a manner known per se 6 with a locking element 8th in the one connecting edge, hereinafter referred to as "strip panel", which with a locking groove 14 cooperates in the other connecting edge, which latter is hereinafter referred to as "Abklapppanel", and forms the horizontal latch.

The prior art mechanical locking system includes a separate flexible spring 30 in a sliding groove 40 is fixed, which is formed in one of the joint edges. The flexible spring 30 has a groove portion P1 which is in the displacement groove 40 is arranged, and a protruding portion P2, which from the displacement groove 40 protrudes. The projecting portion P2 of the flexible spring 30 in one of the two connecting edges acts together with a spring groove 20 formed in the other joint edge.

The flexible spring 30 has a projecting portion P2 with a rounded outer part 31 and a sliding surface 32 , which is designed as a chamfer in this embodiment. It has upper and lower spring-shifting surfaces 33 respectively. 35 and an inner section 34 ,

The sliding groove 40 has an upper and a lower opening 42 respectively. 46 , which are rounded in this embodiment, a floor 44 and upper and lower groove sliding surfaces 43 respectively. 45 which are preferably substantially parallel to the horizontal plane HP.

The feather groove 20 has a spring-locking surface 22 , which with the flexible spring 30 cooperates and locks the joint edges in the vertical direction D1. The folding panel 1' has a vertical locking surface 24 which is closer to the back 62 is as the feather groove 20 , The vertical locking surface 24 works with the strip 6 together and locks the joint edges in another vertical direction. The folding panel has a sliding surface in this embodiment 23 , which during locking with the sliding surface 32 the flexible spring 30 interacts.

The flexible spring may be wedge-shaped and may be locked in the spring groove under bias, whereby the Abklapppanel 1' pressed against the strippanel. Such an embodiment results in a very high quality connection.

3a shows a cross section AA through a panel accordingly 3b , seen from above. The flexible spring 30 has a length L along the connecting edge, a width W parallel to the horizontal plane and perpendicular to the length L, and a thickness T in the vertical direction D1. The sum of the largest groove portion P1 and the most protruding portion P2 gives the total width TW. The flexible spring also has a central portion MS and two edge portions ES adjacent to the central portion in this embodiment. The size of the protruding part P2 and the groove portion P1 varies along the length L in this embodiment, and the spring is of the two corner portions 9a and 9b spaced. The flexible spring 30 has a friction connection at one of its edge portions 36 which may be designed, for example, as a locally small vertical projection. This frictional connection holds the flexible spring during installation in the displacement groove 40 or during manufacture, packaging and transportation, if the flexible spring is integrally formed with the floor panel in the manufacturing plant.

The 2a and 2 B show the position of the flexible spring 30 after the first shift towards the ground 44 the displacement groove 40 , The displacement is essentially caused by bending the flexible spring 30 in your Longitudinal direction L parallel to the width W. This feature is important for this state of the art. Embodiments on the market have a maximum spring pressure of about 20 N.

The Abklapppanel can be isolated by means of a needle-shaped tool, which of the corner portion 9b into the feather groove 20 can be introduced and the flexible spring back into the sliding groove 40 suppressed. The flap panel can then be angled upwards while the strip panel is still on the ground. Of course, the panels can also be separated from each other in the traditional way.

4a shows an embodiment of a vertical folding. A first panel 1'' in a first row R1 is with a second panel 1 connected in a second row R2. A new panel 1 will with its long edge 5a towards the long edge 5b the first panel 1'' moved at a normal transfer angle of about 25-30 degrees, pressed against the opposite edge and with its long edge 4a shows an embodiment of a vertical folding. A first panel 1'' in a first row R1 is with a second panel 1 connected in a second row R2. A new panel 1' will with its long edge 5a towards the long edge 5b the first panel 1'' moved at a normal transfer angle of about 25-30 degrees, pressed against the opposite edge and with its long edge 5a with the long edge 5b of the first panel connected by angling. This bending process also connects the short edge 4b the new panel 1' with the short edge 4a the second panel 1 , The folding panel 1' comes with the strip panel 1 connected by a combined vertical and rotational movement along the vertical plane VP. The protruding part P2 has a rounded or angled shaped Abklappteil P '', which during folding with the sliding surface 23 of the folding panel 1' interacts. The combination effect of a Abklappteils P '' and a sliding surface 32 the spring, which during the Abklappvorganges with the sliding surface 23 of the folding panel 1' cooperates facilitates the first displacement of the flexible spring 30 , An essential feature of this embodiment can be seen in the position of the projecting projection P2, which from the corner portion 9a and 9b is spaced. This distance is at least 10% of the length of the connecting edge, in the present case the visible short edge 4a ,

The 4a Federation 4c show an embodiment of the set of floor panels with a sliding spring and an alternative laying method. In this embodiment, the length of the spring is more than 90% of the width WS of the surface of the panel, in other preferred embodiments preferably the length of the spring being in the range of 75% of the width WS to the total width WS of the surface. Preferably, the length of the spring corresponds approximately to the total width of the panel minus the width of the locking system of the adjacent edges of the panel. A small chamfer may be provided at the ends of the outer edge, but the straight portion of the spring preferably has at the outer edge a length substantially equal to the length of the spring or desirably more than 90% of that length. The new panel 1' is in an angled position with an upper portion of the connecting edge in contact with the first panel 1'' in the first row. The short edges 4a and 4d are spaced from each other. The new panel 1' is then moved sideways towards the second panel until the short edges 4a . 4b are essentially in contact and part of the flexible spring 15 in the displacement groove 40 is pressed in, as best in 4b to recognize. The new panel 1' is then folded down in the direction of the second panel 1 , Because moving the new panel 1' only one edge region of the flexible spring 30 in the displacement groove 40 pushes in, a vertical folding is possible with reduced resistance. Laying can be done with a sliding spring, which has a straight outer edge. If panels with the well-known arc-shaped spring 30 (see. 2 - 4 ), the entire spring must be pushed into the displacement groove. If the known bow-shaped spring is compared with a spring with the invention, less force is required for a spring with the same spring constant per unit length of the spring. It is therefore possible to use a spring with a higher spring constant per unit length and a higher spring restoring force, resulting in a more reliable final position of the spring. In this laying method, a slanted sliding surface of the folding panel is not required or may be smaller, which is an advantage for the thin panel. The disadvantage of this method is that the new panel must be angled and pushed sideways during vertical folding. The 4c shows that all embodiments of a spring can be on the Abklapppanel. Of course, some adjustments are needed.

It is generally an advantage to have the spring on the strip panel because rounded or bevelled parts on the flap panel can be used to facilitate shifting of the flexible parts of the spring. An embodiment with a spring, which is provided on the Abklapppanel, as in 4d has the disadvantage that the spring must slide against a sharp edge of the panel surface.

A spring may contain plastic material and may be made by injection molding, for example. In this manufacturing method, a wide variety of complex three-dimensional shapes can be manufactured at a low cost and the flexible springs can be easily connected together to make spring blanks. A spring may also be made of extruded or cut plastic or metal, which may be further shaped, for example by stamping, to form a flexible spring. The disadvantage of extruding, apart from the additional manufacturing steps, is that it is difficult to reinforce the spring, for example by means of fibers.

Any type of polymeric materials may be used such as PA (nylon), POM, PC, PP, PET or PE or the like having properties as described above for the various embodiments. These plastic materials, when injection molding or die casting are needed, can be reinforced by, for example, glass fibers, Kevlar fibers, carbon fibers or talc or lime. A preferred material is glass fiber, preferably extra long, reinforced PP or POM.

The 5a - 5e show embodiments of flexible springs 30 which can be used to lock short edges according to the invention. 5a shows a separate spring 30 on the folding panel with a flexible snapper that extends upwards. 5b shows a separate spring 30 on the strip panel with a flexible snap that extends downwards. 5c shows a separate spring with a flexible snapper within a displacement groove 40 , The snapper can extend upwards or downwards and can be provided on the strip panel or on the folding panel, according to the same principles as in the 5a and b. 5d shows a projection containing flexible spring, as in 6a shown, and these projections can be in the displacement groove 40 be provided or from the vertical plane into the spring groove 20 extend. 5e shows that the tongue 30 may be formed integrally with the panel and that the locking as a result of the compression of the fibers or parts of the panel material and / or by bending the strip 6 can be achieved.

The 6a Figure-c show embodiments of the spring 30 which can be used according to the invention. They are all designed so that they can be inserted into a groove in a floor panel. 6a shows a flexible spring 30 with flexible protrusions 16 , 6b shows a bow-shaped spring 30 and 6c shows a spring 30 with a flexible snap bridge 17 ,

A flexible spring, similar to the one in the 1 - 4 . 5d . 6a and 6b illustrated embodiment, for example, can be made of a material based on wood fiber, for example, HDF, hardwood or plywood with multiple layers. Extremely strong and flexible springs can be made of HDF, especially if the design is such that flexibility is obtained substantially in parallel with the fiber orientations of the HDF fibers.

7a Figure 4 shows in four steps the laying down with vertical folding and the problems associated with such laying. To simplify the description, one embodiment is flexible spring 30 shown on the strip panel. As previously explained, the spring may be provided on the folding panel. A new panel 1' is moved to a laying angle, with its long edge 5a towards the long edge of a first panel 1'' is moved until the upper edges are in contact. The new panel is then moved laterally until the short edge 4b comes in contact with a short edge of an adjacent second panel in the same row as in 7a shown. The new panel 1' is then angled down to a contact angle when an edge portion 30 ' the flexible spring 30 located in a first initial contact with the short edge of the new panel, as in 7b shown. Further angling, which should be done for optimum effect with contact between the short edges, gradually pushes a larger portion of the flexible spring horizontally and the flexibility of the spring creates an increasing pressure, which causes the short edges 4a and 4b can push apart. An undesirable gap G will arise as in 7c shown. The locking element 8th will in many cases be unable to retract the short edges of the panels because the friction between the long edges can be considerable when the panels are at a small angle and the gap G will be maintained in the assembled condition as in FIG 7d shown. This can cause cracks or other damage in the locking system. Even very small permanent gaps of 0.01-0.1 mm can cause significant problems because moisture can easily penetrate the compound.

The 8a - 8d Show in detail by the flexible spring 30 caused separation problems. The panels 1 . 1' are according to 8a in a contact angle with the sliding surfaces 23 . 32 of the folding panel 1' and the contacting flexible spring. The 8b and 8c show that the flexibility of the spring causes a separation pressure SP, which the panels 1 . 1' Separate from each other and can cause a gap G, if the panels are not by the tiler be compressed. 8d shows the panels in the locked position with a permanent gap G. In this case, the locking strip 6 bent and sits the locking element 8th only partially in the locking groove 14 , In the worst case, cracks will be in the locking element 8th form and the panels are not locked horizontally at the short edges.

The 9a - 9o Figure 3 shows three types of interlocking locking systems used in large quantities in conventionally angled locking floor coverings. The 9a -C show the floor panels at a laying angle A of 25 degrees. In this position there are only two contact points CP3 and CP2 or CP3, CP4 between the first and second connection partners. There is always an upper contact point CP3 or a contact surface at the upper joint edges and a second lower contact point or a contact surface CP4, CP2 in the lower portion of the spring or somewhere between the inner lower portion of the spring 10 and the locking groove 14 , The displacement friction along the joint edges is very low in this position, especially in HDF floorboards with soft surfaces. The 9d -F show further angling to an angle of 15 degrees and the 9g -L show an angle of 10 degrees. In these positions there are only two points of contact and the friction remains low. The 9j and 9k show that the locking systems are in a locking angle in which the locking surfaces 51 . 52 partly in contact with each other. 9l shows a locking system in a guide angle, wherein the guide surfaces 11 . 12 are in contact. 9j shows that this locking system has four contact points, namely two upper contact points at the upper connecting edge CP3 and at the upper part of the spring CP1 and two lower contact points at the lower part of the spring CP2 and between the locking surfaces CP4. 9k shows two upper CP1, CP3 and one lower contact point CP4. 9l similar 9j but a lower contact point is between the guide surfaces 11 . 12 , The displacement friction along the joint edges will increase considerably in these positions, especially if there is a tight fit between the contact points or contact surfaces and / or if the contact surfaces are of considerable size. Preload can further increase friction and displacement along the long edges in conjunction with vertical folding can be hindered and, in most cases, completely eliminated, even in small pieces of floor panels. However, such locking systems are not suitable on the long side in a vertical folding system in which the contact angle is more than 5-8 degrees, especially when made with a normal fit between the connection partners because they do not shift along the long Prevent edges and separation of the short edges.

10a shows an embodiment according to the first object of the invention. Such a locking system may preferably be used on the long edges in a vertical folding system with a contact angle A of about 10 degrees and less. It will also be possible to connect such a system in locking systems with higher contact angles, because such a system prevents displacement already at 10 degrees when most hinged locking systems produce the highest displacement pressure. 10a shows the position of a panel 1' at an angle of 15 degrees with only two points CP3, CP2 in contact with each other. The panel 1' is at a friction angle position of 12 degrees with three contact points CP3, CP2, CP4 '. This position is characterized by the fact that there is only one contact point CP2 on the spring and that the guide surfaces 11 . 12 are in contact. This is an advantage because the guide surfaces push the spring into the groove during further twisting, as in FIG 10b shown. The friction has further increased and is caused by vertical contacts and an interaction of the spring 10 and the feather groove 9 (CP1, CP2), the horizontal contacts between the upper edges CP3 and the guide surfaces 11 . 12 which form the second lower contact point CP4. The ideal position is preferably an embodiment with a contact angle equal to or less than the friction angle and the guide angle. Such an embodiment may, for example, have a friction and guide angle of about 10 degrees and a contact angle of about 8-9 degrees. Locking could be done in an extremely simple manner and only apply downward pressure to the new panel when the panel is positioned at a guide angle. 10c shows that the locking system is designed with a large angle between the locking surfaces and that fibers during the final stage of twisting, represented by the position 1'a , at the upper edges CP4 and on the locking surfaces CP4 must be compressed to allow locking. This configuration offers several advantages. The friction is increased and at a high level when the separation force is at its highest level. The floor panels are held in an angled position by the locking element and the locking groove, as in FIG 10b illustrated, independently of or in combination with a contact between the short edge of the Abklapppanels and an edge portion of the flexible spring. The friction prevents the short corner from moving away from the flexible spring slip. This facilitates routing because the publisher can change his hand position from inserting the panel into the transfer angle to a short edge vertical printing operation. The invention thus provides a vertical locking system with a long corner and angled system which allows one panel to remain in an angled position with respect to another panel while the upper joint edges are in contact. It also provides a locking system in which there is an increasing pressure between the upper connecting edges and the locking element and / or between the spring and the groove in a final stage of entanglement when a portion of the locking groove 14 in contact with the locking element 8th located.

The 11a - 11c show that the same principles can be used to provide a locking system with an even greater friction angle A, for example 15 degrees, as in FIG 11a shown. The locking element 8th has been made higher and extends vertically in this preferred embodiment by the distance LH from the lowermost point of the locking strip 6 about 0.2 times the panel thickness T. The spring has a lower portion 54 which extends substantially parallel to the horizontal plane HP and which preferably extends from the vertical plane VP along a distance TD by about 0.1 times the panel thickness T.

The importance of the contact angle and the combined effect of the long and short edges during vertical folding and vertical locking will now be described with reference to FIGS 12a - 13d explained.

12a shows a long corner locking system 1'' . 1' and a short-locking system 1 . 1' in a laid floor system, which is designed to be locked by vertical folding or vertical locking. The long edges have a locking system which allows locking by angling. The short edges have a locking system which allows locking by vertical locking or vertical folding.

12b shows the position of the sliding surface 23 for example, a new panel 1' seen from a second panel 1 towards the new panel 1' if the new panel 1' is moved vertically downwards. This locking can be used to connect, for example, the first row. The sliding surface 23 runs in a plane, which in the lower section of the panel 1' is arranged.

12c shows the position of the sliding surface 32 , the top 31 the flexible spring and the sliding surface 23 if the first panel 1'' and the second panel 1 lie flat on the floor.

The 12b and 12c show that the position of the flexible spring in the longitudinal direction of the short edge in a vertical locking system is not important, because the entire panel is moved vertically downwards.

13a shows an embodiment of the same locking system as in the 12 during vertical folding. The edge of a flexible spring 30 in this embodiment is at a distance FD from the long edge of the first panel 1'' positioned. 13b shows a vertical folding of a corner portion CS and the position of the new panel 1' when it is close to a contact angle. Because of the slanted sliding surfaces 23 . 32 There is no contact between the folding panel 1 and the flexible spring 30 , 13c shows the contact angle, which is 10 degrees in this embodiment. The sliding surfaces 32 . 23 overlap each other in an initial contact point CP5. Another angling will be the development of a gradually increasing separation pressure between the short edges of the panels 1 . 1' cause a larger portion TPC of the flexible spring is pressed horizontally inward into a sliding groove by the sliding surface 23 of the folding panel 1' , as in 13d shown.

The 14a and 14b show the position of the flexible spring 30 in two embodiments of the invention. The flexible spring 30 is horizontally bendable in the longitudinal direction in these embodiments. The edge of the flexible spring is in 14a in a position FD1 close to the long edge 5b arranged, for example, 15 mm away from the edge. Such a locking system has a contact angle of about 10 degrees in a normal thickness laminate flooring. The contact angle may be lower if the edge of the spring is farther away from the long edge at a distance FD2 5b is positioned as in 14b shown. In this case locking systems with a smaller contact angle can be used. Such an embodiment may be sufficient in thick and sturdy floor panels or in narrow floor panels. In thinner floorboards, such as 6-8 mm laminate and veneered floor coverings, it is an advantage if the flexible spring can lock the short edges close to the long edges, over a considerable length of the short edge. The 14c and 14d show the flexible spring in a significant contact position when a first portion of the flexible spring 30 horizontally bent and pushed horizontally into the displacement groove. It is obvious that the Separation pressure increases when a larger portion of the spring is bent and pushed horizontally sideways during the Abklappvorganges. These and previously described embodiments show that the long corner and short corner locking systems are interdependent and must be adapted to each other to provide a simple and durable locking function.

The 15a -C show friction members 53 . 53 ' , which in this embodiment as narrow local projections on the upper portion of the locking strip on the strip panel 1 and on the lower portion of the spring or on the slot panel 1' are formed. Such projections may be formed on other surfaces in the locking system and serve to prevent displacement at high angles, for example when only two points of contact are present, as in FIG 15a shown. The friction members may include any type of materials or chemicals, such as small hard particles, rubber, binders, and similar materials that are incorporated into the locking system. Preferred materials are soft waxes such as microcrystalline waxes or paraffin-based waxes, which can be applied to one or more surfaces in the locking system, for example on the spring or tongue groove, on the strip, on the locking element and / or in the locking groove, on one or both sliding surfaces, etc. and they can increase the initial friction between particular HDF surfaces. In a plywood core, different layers and fiber structures can be used to make a spring 10 and a strip 6 such that a high friction is obtained during the angling. The above-mentioned friction members can be combined. Local small protrusions, rough surfaces, oriented fiber structures, etc. can be combined, for example, with wax or chemicals.

The 16a -D show methods for determining the friction between long edges of floor panels. A test piece of a grooved panel 1' with a width W2 of about 200 mm, with a compressive force F1 of 10 N at an angle A against a strip panel 1'' pressed, which is fixed and has a width W1 of more than 200 mm. The pressing force F1 is applied to the slot panel 1' applied with a wheel that rotates with low friction. The displacement friction is defined as the maximum force F2 required for the slot panel 1 to move along the connection. The curve Fa in 16b Fig. 10 shows measurements taken in a test piece of an 8 mm laminated panel having a surface of printed paper impregnated with thermosetting resins and having an HDF core. The friction should be determined by a laying angle and at smaller angles. The displacement friction of this specimen is about 10 N at an installation angle IA and almost the same at a contact angle CA of 10 degrees. The friction angle FA in this test specimen is about 5 degrees. Many HDF-based locking systems on the market have a displacement friction of less than 10 N at the laying angle. The friction could be as low as 5N. The long edges participate only marginally in such a locking system to counteract the shifting of the short edges during the initial stages of vertical folding because the angle of friction is less than the contact angle. The curve Fb shows a special locking system in which the friction, because of the geometry of the locking system, is higher at a laying angle than at a smaller angle. The invention is based on the principle that friction in the contact angle should be increased compared to a transfer angle or any other angle between the transfer angle and the contact angle at which the friction force has its lowest value. A preferred embodiment states that the friction in the contact angle exceeds 15 N and may be even higher, preferably 20 N. A preferred embodiment further includes a vertical locking system with a flexible spring which produces a spring pressure of greater than 20N, even greater than 30N.

There are locking systems on the market which have fairly high friction at high angles. Such locking systems can not be angled down from a laying angle to a contact angle or a guide angle in a normal manner with a pressure F1 of 10 N, which corresponds to a 60 N compressive force exerted during laying on a floor panel of 120 cm, and there a type of locking system in which the bending must be combined with hard pressure or a snap action in an angular position. Such locking systems are not used in vertical folding systems. They are not excluded within the scope of the invention, but they are not favorable for a vertical folding system because they only marginally improve linings in some specific applications, compared to conventionally used liners with short and long edge angles, short and long edge snapping Angling long edges and snapping short edges.

16c shows a cheaper locking system according to the invention, in which the friction angle FA is about 15 degrees and the contact angle CA is 10 degrees. The friction angle FA is larger than the contact angle CA and the friction between the long edges has increased considerably at the contact angle CA compared to the laying angle IA. 16d shows how two specimens 1 . 1' be laid with a width W3 of 200 mm and how, according to the fourth principle of the invention, such laying should not result in the separation of the short edges when the drop-down panel is pressed exclusively vertically and without any sideways pressure towards the short edge on the ground, provided that the panels have locking systems according to the invention. The test could also be done with a full-size panel 1 and a panel cut to a length of about 20 cm 1' be made. Such a locking system with long edge friction which prevents so small floorboards from shifting allows easy laying, not only of ordinary floor panels, but also of all size tailored floor panels close to the wall.

The 17a -C show how the locking system according to 11 can be adjusted to produce friction with initially three contact points CP3, CP1 and CP4. The friction is essentially achieved by the pressure between the locking element 8th / locking groove 14 and the upper portion of the spring 10 / keyway 9 , The spring has a lower portion in this embodiment 54 which is substantially parallel to the horizontal plane HP, and preferably extends from the vertical plane along a shorter distance TD than in 11 which is less than 0.1 times the panel thickness T.

The 18a - 18c show that the locking system in 11 can also be adjusted to generate friction with initially three further contact points CP3, CP1 and CP3. The friction is primarily achieved by the pressure between the upper and lower portions of the spring 10 / keyway 9 , The spring has a lower portion in this embodiment 54 which is substantially parallel to the horizontal plane HP and which preferably extends from the vertical plane along the same distance TD as in FIG 11 extends. The height LH of the connecting element is thereby reduced. friction members 53 are shown in the form of wax on the lower portion of the spring 10 , The wax should preferably be quite soft and it should preferably be possible to deform the wax during angling. This soft wax prevents initial displacement along the joint edge. Such wax can be used in all locking systems and prevents shifts especially against surfaces made of HDF.

The 17 and 18 show that a variety of combinations of friction angles and friction points can be achieved when the dimensions of the spring 10 , the groove 9 , the strip 6 , the locking element 8th and the locking groove ( 14 ) in accordance with the principles of the invention.

19a shows an embodiment with a friction angle of 20 degrees, wherein the friction is achieved with only two contact points CP1 and CP2 between the upper and lower portions of the spring 10 / keyway 9 , The spring also has a lower portion in this embodiment 54 which is substantially parallel with the horizontal plane HP and which extends from the vertical plane along a distance TD of more than 0.2 times the panel thickness T. The spring has a space in this embodiment 55 between the lower portion of the spring and the spring groove, which facilitates locking and allows the guide surfaces 11 . 12 overlap at a large angle of, for example, 15 degrees, as in 19b shown.

The 20a -C show that it is possible to design a locking system with three contact points CP3, CP1 and CP2 at a pitch angle of 25 degrees, as in FIG 20a shown. The locking element has been made even higher (LH) than in the previous embodiments and the Nutenpanel 1' has a lead 56 between the spring 10 and the feather groove 9 , The upper portion of the spring extends at an angle to the horizontal plane, and this facilitates machining with large rotating tools of the spring groove 9 ,

Simple vertical locking at the short edge does not provide a major improvement over current technology unless combined with a well-functioning long edge locking system with upstanding guiding and locking features that allow long and short edges to be joined by a simple angling operation. As is apparent from the embodiments shown for example in FIGS 10b . 11a . 17a . 13c . 18b . 19b and 20b , it is possible to have a locking system with a combined friction angle and guide angle and with a locking element 8th and a locking groove 14 forming the flap panel in an upwardly angled position. The only action that is required to lock the panels is to apply vertical pressure to the flap panel close to the short edges.

• 1. Sie sind im Allgemeinen hergestellt aus einem extrudierten Kunststoffzuschnitt, welches kosteneffektiv ist, aber die Herstellungstoleranzen sind nicht hinreichend, um eine hochwertige Verriegelung zu erhalten.
• 2. Die Flexibilität ist nicht ausreichend wegen des Umstandes, dass lediglich ein flexibler Schnappersteg verwendet wird, welcher sich über einen sehr begrenzten vertikalen Abstand in dünnen Fußbodenbrettern biegt. Diese niedrige Flexibilität verursacht erhebliche Separationskräfte in den Kanten.
• 3. Es ist schwierig, Flexibilität und Verriegelungsfestigkeit zu kombinieren, insbesondere bei flexiblen Federn, wie in den 5a, b dargestellt. Die Ausführungsform gemäß der Erfindung verringert oder eliminiert die oben genannten Probleme. Der innere flexible Bereich 62 ist kein Teil der Vertikalverriegelung und kann deshalb sehr flexibel gemacht werden, weil seine Hauptfunktion darin besteht, die flexible Feder 30 in einer Verschiebungsnut zu verlagern. Der obere Abschnitt 67 des inneren flexiblen Bereiches wird dabei gegen einen inneren Abschnitt einer Verschiebungsnut gedrückt und wird gebogen oder komprimiert, so wie eine Kante eines Bodenpanels gegen den äußeren flexiblen Bereich 61 gepresst wird. Vorzugsweise ist der äußere Bereich 61 stabiler und stärker als der innere Bereich 62. Die kombinierte Flexibilität von Innenbereich und Außenbereich kann gestaltet werden, um eine kräftigere Verriegelung mit geringerer Separationskraft als bei bekannten Federn zu ergeben. Die flexible Feder 30 kann natürlich ein oder mehrere, beispielsweise W-förmige innere Bereiche und/oder äußere Bereiche aufweisen, welche sich vertikal aufwärts oder abwärts erstrecken und dieses kann genutzt werden, um mehr Flexibilität und Verschiebung zu erzeugen. Eine solche Feder kann auch mit einem festen äußeren Bereich gebildet werden, welcher nicht biegbar ist. Die Feder kann mit dem Abklapppanel verbunden sein. Der äußere flexible Bereich 61 wird sich in einer solchen Ausführungsform vertikal aufwärts erstrecken und gegen einen oberen Abschnitt der Federnut verriegeln.

The 21a -C show a flexible spring 30 with an interior area 62 and an outer one flexible area 61 , Flexible springs, as in the 5a - 5c represented suffer from the following disadvantages

• 1. They are generally made from an extruded plastic blank which is cost effective, but the manufacturing tolerances are not sufficient to obtain a high quality interlock.
• 2. The flexibility is not sufficient due to the fact that only a flexible snap bar is used, which bends over a very limited vertical distance in thin floorboards. This low flexibility causes considerable separation forces in the edges.
• 3. It is difficult to combine flexibility and locking strength, especially with flexible springs such as the 5a , b shown. The embodiment according to the invention reduces or eliminates the above-mentioned problems. The inner flexible area 62 is not part of the vertical lock and can therefore be made very flexible because its main function is to provide the flexible spring 30 to shift in a shift groove. The upper section 67 The inner flexible portion is pressed against an inner portion of a sliding groove and is bent or compressed, such as an edge of a floor panel against the outer flexible portion 61 is pressed. Preferably, the outer area 61 more stable and stronger than the inner area 62 , The combined flexibility of interior and exterior can be designed to provide a stronger lock with less separation force than known springs. The flexible spring 30 may of course comprise one or more, for example, W-shaped inner regions and / or outer regions extending vertically upwards or downwards and this may be used to create more flexibility and displacement. Such a spring can also be formed with a fixed outer region, which is not bendable. The spring may be connected to the Abklapppanel. The outer flexible area 61 will extend vertically upwards in such an embodiment and lock against an upper portion of the spring groove.

21b shows that an extruded spring made of, for example, plastic or metal can be suitably shaped by, for example, twisting or grinding. This will significantly increase manufacturing tolerances to a level similar to compression molding or even better. The shifting, the locking function and the locking strength can be considerably improved. In the illustrated embodiment, the lower contact surface 64 and / or the locking surface 65 before entering the sliding groove 40 been machined. A part of the flexible spring, preferably the outer flexible area 61 , Can be machined when the spring is joined or bonded to the edge. This can be achieved in a separate manufacturing step or in the production flow when the locking system is formed. The flexible spring may be configured to flex horizontally longitudinally during vertical folding. Such bending is facilitated and the separation forces are reduced if a spring section 68 is removed on an edge, as in 21d shown. This means that the width W of the spring 30 varies over the length L. Such a spring section can also be from the inner elastic part 67 and the spring will bend longitudinally with less resistance and facilitate vertical folding. Such shaping with cutting of a part at an edge portion can be performed on all types of extruded springs, in particular those springs which have limited flexibility, for example in the embodiment with only an outer elastic or flexible region, as in FIG 5a . 5b and 6c shown. The flexible spring can also be designed according to the door hinge principle with a strong projection and a flexible knee joint such that it does not bend horizontally during locking. Such an embodiment may form a strong lock. However, considerable separation forces can occur. This can be counteracted, for example, by means of an embodiment comprising different inner and outer individual flexible sections 61a . 61b which has a separating cut 69 can be separated, which is carried out for example by punching or machining. Such individual flexible areas can snap individually and this makes it possible to reduce manufacturing tolerances, especially when the springs are equipped with individual flexible areas whose longitudinal dimensions vary, for example, by a few 0.1 mm and which are designed to be at specific predetermined levels Lock relation to each other. This ensures that some individual flexible areas are always in a perfectly locked position. Individually distinct areas may be combined with a flexible spring which is fixed to the panel edge, preferably within a horizontally extending groove.

The invention also comprises a separate extruded flexible spring which is designed to be used for the vertical locking of floorboards, characterized in that such a spring has been machined, preferably on an upper contact surface 63 and / or a lower contact surface 64 and / or on a locking surface 65 , Such a spring and the spring described above with a remote edge portion may have a similar shape of shape as in the 5a - 5c shown embodiments in which the flexible spring has only an inner or an outer flexible snap bridge.

Turning, grinding or similar manufacturing steps generally result in a surface that is different than the extruded virgin surface. This can be detected under the microscope in most cases. Such machining can also be used to increase or decrease the friction between the spring and the displacement groove.

The 22a - 22c show vertical folding or vertical locking. A panel 1' is preferably along the vertical plane VP towards another panel 1 emotional. The inner flexible area 62 is bent vertically when an edge portion of the folding panel 1' in contact with an outer portion of the flexible spring 30 passes, preferably the outer flexible portion 61 and the flexible spring becomes inward in the sliding groove 40 displaced in, where it is preferably connected by friction connection. Gradually, even this outer flexible area becomes 61 start to bend, as in 22b shown. Finally, both the inner and the outer sections 62 snap back into their original positions and the flexible spring will be in the displacement groove 40 towards the feather groove 20 relocate. The locking surface 65 the flexible spring 30 is then against a section of a spring groove 20 lock. The connection between the spring and the displacement groove can be provided with a small clearance to allow easy shifting and some tilting of the spring during locking. The outer flexible section 61 is preferably primarily displaced horizontally during locking with a slight twist about the upper knee 70 , The lower contact surface 65 can be made at an angle which is preferably less than 10 degrees from the horizontal plane, which increases the locking strength.

23a shows a spring locking system, which can be locked by bending. The new panel 1' has a first connector, which is a spring 10 with a locking element 8a includes in the upper area. The first panel 1'' has an undercut feather groove 9 with an upper lip 6b and a lower lip 6a and one in the upper lip 6b trained locking groove 14a which slopes down towards the lower lip 6a extends. The first and second connectors lock the panels vertically and horizontally. The lower lip 6a preferably extends beyond the vertical plane VP and preferably has a horizontal contact surface in contact with a lower portion of the spring 10 , For example, the locking system may be configured to have three contact points CP1, 2, 3 at an angle greater than 15 degrees, as in FIG 23a shown. The spring latch may be used as an alternative to the strip latch systems in all the embodiments described above. A spring latch on the long edges can be combined with a hook system on the short edges, which preferably locks only horizontally, as in FIG 24d shown.

The 24a shows a locking system with a double spring 10 . 10 ' and two corresponding keyways 9 . 9 ' which can be used to lock the long edges together by angling, snapping or even vertically locking, if the springs and strip are adapted to allow a vertical snap action. Such a system may have more than four contact points and the friction along the connection may be considerable.

24b shows a locking system with a separate strip 6 ' which can also be used to lock the long edges in the same manner as in the embodiment according to FIG 24a , Such a strip may comprise a material or a surface which has more advantageous frictional properties than the core material.

24c shows a locking system with a separate spring 10 ' , which can be flexible or stiff and which on the strip panel 1'' or on the folding panel 1' or at the long and / or the short edges may be provided to improve the friction properties for the purpose of saving material.

24d shows a hook system which locks only horizontally.

24e shows an embodiment of a locking system with a flexible spring 30 , which is made in one piece with the core. An undercut groove 71 which is behind the flexible spring 30 is formed, can increase the flexibility of the spring. Such a groove may be formed, preferably by a scraping tool, when the short edges are machined. Such scraping or scraping technology can be used to achieve advanced designs, similar to extruded plastic sections, particularly in fiber-based material such as HDF, but even in solid wood and in wood Plastic materials. The flexible spring 30 Can also with the help of large rotating tools on the folding panel 1' be formed, wherein an outer part extends upward. The locking system may also include two flexible springs, one on each edge. Wood fibers in the flexible spring may be impregnated and / or coated, for example with a binder 70 to increase the strength and flexibility. The impregnation may be done before or after the formation of the spring or the edge. The entire edge or portions of the locking system, such as the spring groove 20 , the locking element 8th or the locking groove 14 can also be impregnated and / or coated. The undercut groove can be filled with flexible materials to improve strength and flexibility. Vertical folding can be relieved by the strip 6 and / or the locking element 8th flex during vertical folding. Wax in the locking system facilitates locking. A vertical groove 73 above the strip in the folding panel 1' or a cavity 72 in the strip 6 near the locking element it 8th in the strip panel 1 increases the flexibility of the locking system and allows parts to be more flexible. parts 78 the underside of the strip and / or a leveling layer can be removed, increasing the flexibility of the strip and facilitating bending towards the ground. The folding panel can be a projection 74 and preferably also locking surfaces of the basis of 27c described genus. The flexible spring can also be made of a separate material which is permanently attached to the panel, for example by gluing, friction or snapping. Such a separate material may, for example, be a fairly local edge portion 77 which is connected to the edge before the final mechanical machining. The undercut groove 71 can also be preformed before the separate material 77 connected to the panel edge. Such a connection can be made on individual panel edges or on a panel board, which is then cut to individual floor panels. The separate material 75 . 76 can also match the edge of the strip panel 1 and / or the hinged panel 1 be connected so that it encloses a large part of the locking system. Such a separate material may preferably be glued in a wooden floor to the uppermost layer and the lower leveling layer. Separate materials may include, for example, hardwood, which is preferably hard and flexible, such as willow or birch, binders impregnated wood, such as acrylic napkins, plastic materials, compact laminate made from wood fiber material and phenol, which may also contain glass fibers, HDF, or binder-reinforced HDF. HDF also has a clear vertical fiber orientation, materials with different layers containing wood fibers and / or plastic materials and / or glass fibers. Such materials may be used separately or in combination. The locking system can of course also according to the principles described above without the undercut groove 71 be made, for example, according to the in 5e described embodiment, provided that suitable materials and connection configurations are used to obtain the required flexibility.

A variety of chemicals can be used to impregnate or coat parts or all of the locking systems, such as melamine, urea, phenol, thermoplastic materials such as PP or PUR. Such chemicals can be cured, for example by means of heat, microwave, UV or the like with or without pressure.

The flexible spring 70 may flex in a standard HDF material a few tenths of a millimeter and this may be sufficient to provide vertical interlock, particularly in a laminate floor. Impregnation and / or coating can increase this flexibility considerably.

According to the invention, a preferred embodiment is proposed with a short-edge locking system which can be locked by vertical folding or vertical locking, which is characterized in that the locking system has an edge with a strip 6 , a locking element 8th and a flexible spring 30 which extends downwardly and is integrally formed with a panel core or in a separate material which can be permanently connected to the core. The flexible spring 30 includes an undercut groove 70 which is formed behind the spring.

The 25a -C show how the highest three point contact angles in a locking system consisting primarily of wood fiber based core material can be determined correctly. There are several hundred different Mark locking systems used alone for locking laminate floor coverings. For most of these it is quite easy to determine the highest three-point contact angles. This is in 25a shown. A specimen having a width W2 and a length of about 100 mm is angled downward from a laying angle with the upper edges in contact until a resistance from the contact between the locking groove and the Locking element occurs. The specimen should be able to maintain its angled position in this position, which is associated with the largest three-point contact angle, and not fall below the weight of the specimen down to the ground. Such a locking system has a design characterized in that the three points are given by the upper edges CP3, the upper part of the spring and the groove CP1 and the locking element / locking groove CP4. However, a locking system may also have a design as in the 25b , c, wherein the three contact points are given by the upper and lower parts of the spring, together with the upper edges (CP1, CP2, CP3). However, some such locking systems will not be able to stand in an upwardly angled position. In such systems, a cross section through a compound should be analyzed under a microscope. If loose fibers make it difficult to define the three-point contact angle, the friction should be measured as in 16 described. Increased friction is an indication that an additional contact point is active in the locking system.

The 26a - 26d show an embodiment of a locking system on the short edges, which counteracts or prevents displacement of the long edges during vertical folding. 26a shows a cross section BB through a short-side locking system close to the edge portion in which the folding starts, as in 4a shown. This locking system, as previously in connection with, for example, the 1 - 3 . 5 and 8th described comprises a strip 6 with a locking element 8th and a separate flexible spring 30 in a strip panel 1 , a feather groove 20 and a locking groove 14 in the folding panel 1' , The locking surfaces are substantially vertical and parallel to the vertical plane VP. Preferably, this locking system can be designed so that the locking element 8th with its upper portion of the locking surface 8a in contact with the lower part of the locking surface 14a the locking groove 14 , as in 26a shown, with no contact between the folding panel 1' and the flexible spring 30 consists. This can be achieved due to the fact that no spring member is close to the long edge, or that the spring is arcuate and has no protruding part which contacts the flap panel 1' located. 26b shows a cross section according to CC in 4a , The locking surfaces 8a . 14a prevent a separation when the spring 30 being in contact with the flipping panel, provided that they are substantially and preferably completely vertical and that they extend vertically for a considerable distance so that they can prevent displacement at an angle of preferably 10 degrees or more, even in one embodiment in which the flexible spring 30 is positioned close to the long edge. The locking surfaces should preferably have a height H which is at least 0.1 times or even more than 0.15 times the floor thickness T. Vertical locking surfaces can also be made with a height H of about 0.2 x T or more.

Various alternatives are possible within the main principle of this invention. 26d shows that the effect can be equivalent if only the locking surface 14a the locking groove 14 meets the above requirements. The effect can also be the same when the locking groove 14b for example, is arc-shaped towards the outer edge, provided that there are at least two parts arranged vertically along a vertical plane and that the distance is about 0.1 · T.

27a shows an embodiment in which the locking element 8th and the locking groove 14 used on the short side to prevent separation. It is an advantage if the edge 8a of the locking element 8th close to the long edge 5b the first panel 1'' is located because this edge will engage in the locking groove of the new panel at a fairly large angle and the flexible spring can be positioned so that it locks close to the long edge. The flexible spring 30 in this embodiment is an extruded section with a cut-away section 68 , which facilitates the horizontal movement during unfolding. Height and vertical locking surfaces on the short edges are particularly useful in locking systems with a flexible spring having a section of extruded plastic, and in particular if a section has only an outer flexible snap bar which, due to the limited flexibility, causes considerable separation pressure.

27 shows that the flexible spring 30 even further towards the long edge 5b can be moved and prevents displacement along the long edge at a larger angle, if a compact spring locking system is used on the long edges, because such a locking system no strip 6a which protrudes far beyond the vertical plane VP.

27c shows a locking system with a preferably extruded and flexible spring 30 and substantially vertical locking surfaces between the locking element 8th on the strip 6 and the locking groove 14 by doing Abklapppanel 1 , The folding panel 1' includes a projection 74 in addition to the locking surface of the locking groove 14 which is in an adjacent cavity 72 on the strip 6 is received and preferably a substantially horizontal lower contact surface 24 vertically against an adjacent strip contact surface 6 ' locked. This configuration is very favorable for floor coverings with an HDF core because the cavity is formed in the lower part of the core where the density is high. The cavity will only reduce the strength of the locking system to a limited extent. The height H of the vertical locking surfaces is preferably at least 0.1 · T. To avoid cracks when shrinking the floor covering and to attach the separate spring 30 in the sliding groove 40 To facilitate, the design of the locking system is preferably such that the locking element 8th is arranged below a horizontal plane H2, which is the lower part of the displacement groove 40 includes and the locking groove 14 is disposed below a horizontal plane H1, which is the inner portion and the lowest point of the spring groove 20 includes.

• 1. Ein Satz von im Wesentlichen identischen Fußbodenpanelen (1, 1', 1''), jeweils enthaltend lange Kanten (5a, 5b) und kurze Kanten (4a, 4b), welche mit ersten und zweiten Verbindern (9, 10, 6, 8, 14, 20, 30) versehen sind, wobei die Verbinder einstückig mit den Fußbodenpanelen ausgebildet und gestaltet sind, um benachbarte Kanten miteinander zu verbinden, wobei der erste Verbinder einen Verriegelungsstreifen (6) mit einem nach oben gerichteten Verriegelungselement (8) an einer Kante eines Fußbodenpanels und eine nach unten offene Verriegelungsnut (14) an einer benachbarten Kante eines anderen Fußbodenpanels aufweist, um die benachbarten Kanten horizontal in einer Richtung senkrecht zu den benachbarten Kanten zu verbinden, und der zweite Verbinder eine Feder (10, 30) an einer Kante eines Fußbodenpanels aufweist, welche sich horizontal senkrecht zu der Kante erstreckt, und eine horizontal offene Federnut (9, 20) in einer benachbarten Kante eines anderen Fußbodenpanels aufweist, um die benachbarten Kanten in vertikaler Richtung miteinander zu verbinden, wobei die Verbinder und die langen Kanten so gestaltet sind, dass sie durch Abwinkeln verriegelbar sind und die Verbinder an der kurzen Kante so gestaltet sind, dass sie durch vertikales Abklappen verriegelbar sind, wobei eine lange Kante eines neuen Panels (1') in einer zweiten Reihe R2 gestaltet ist, um mit einer langen Kante (5b) eines ersten Panels (1'') in einer ersten Reihe R1 durch Abwinkeln verbunden zu werden, wobei eine kurze Kante (4b) des neuen Panels (1') und eine kurze Kante (4a) eines zweiten Panels (1) in einer zweiten Reihe so gestaltet sind, dass sie mit der gleichen Abwinkelungsbewegung verbindbar sind, wobei die Verbinder (9, 10, 6, 8, 14) der langen Kanten wenigstens drei gesonderte Kontaktpunkte (CP1, CP2, CP3, CP4) oder Kontaktoberflächen zwischen benachbarten Teilen der Verbinder aufweisen, wenn das neue Panel (1') mit seiner oberen Kante gegen die obere Kante des ersten Panels (1'') unter einem Winkel von wenigstens etwa 10 Grad gegen die Hauptebene (HP) gedrückt wird.
• 2. Der Satz von Fußbodenpanelen wie im Abschnitt 1 angegeben, wobei die langen Kanten wenigstens vier Kontaktpunkte (CP1, CP2, CP3, CP4) aufweisen.
• 3. Satz aus Fußbodenpanelen, wie in Abschnitt 2 angegeben, wobei die langen Kanten vertikale obere Kontaktpunkte CP1 und untere Kontaktpunkte CP2 sowie horizontal innere Kontaktpunkte CP3 und äußere Kontaktpunkte CP4 zwischen benachbarten Oberflächen der ersten und zweiten langen Kanten aufweisen, wenn das neue Panel mit seiner oberen Kante gegen die obere Kante des ersten Panels unter einem Winkel von etwa 0 bis 10 Grad gegen die Hauptebene gedrückt wird.
• 4. Satz von Fußbodenpanelen wie in einem der vorhergehenden Abschnitte angegeben, wobei die Feder an den kurzen Kanten ein gesondertes Material aufweist und mit einem flexiblen Abschnitt versehen ist, welcher gestaltet ist, um während des Abklappens horizontal verlagert zu werden, und um mit der Federnut in der benachbarten kurzen Kante zusammenzuwirken, um die Bodenpanele in einer vertikalen Richtung (D1) parallel zu der Vertikalebene (VP) miteinander zu verriegeln.
• 5. Satz von Fußbodenpanelen wie in Abschnitt 4 angegeben, wobei die Feder ein bogenförmig gestaltetes Teil aufweist und in Längsrichtung flexibel ist.
• 6. Satz von Fußbodenpanelen wie in Abschnitt 4 oder 5 angegeben, wobei die Feder mit flexiblen Vorsprüngen versehen ist.
• 7. Satz von Fußbodenpanelen wie in einem der Abschnitte 4–6 angegeben, wobei ein Teil der Feder verschieblich in der Verbindungsnut (40) angeordnet ist.
• 8. Satz von Fußbodenpanelen wie in irgendeinem der Abschnitte 4–7 angegeben, wobei das flexible Teil ein Schnappersteg ist.
• 9. Satz von Fußbodenpanelen wie in Abschnitt 8 angegeben, wobei das flexible Teil ein Schnappersteg auf dem Streifenpanel ist, und wobei der Schnappersteg sich abwärts erstreckt.
• 10. Satz von Fußbodenpanelen wie in irgendeinem der vorhergehenden Abschnitte angegeben, wobei der Winkel wenigstens etwa 15 Grad beträgt.
• 11. Ein Satz von im Wesentlichen identischen Fußbodenpanelen (1, 1', 11'')^, jeweils umfassend lange Kanten (5a, 5b) und kurze Kanten (4a, 4b), und jeweils versehen mit ersten und zweiten Verbindern (9, 10, 6, 8, 14, 20, 30), wobei die Verbinder einstückig mit den Bodenpanelen ausgebildet und gestaltet sind, um benachbarte Kanten miteinander zu verbinden, wobei der erste Verbinder einen Verriegelungsstreifen (6) mit einem aufwärts gerichteten Verriegelungselement (8) an einer Kante eines Bodenpanels und eine nach unten offene Verriegelungsnut (14) an der benachbarten Kante eines anderen Bodenpanels aufweist, um die benachbarten Kanten horizontal in einer Richtung senkrecht zu den benachbarten Kanten zu verriegeln, und der zweite Verbinder eine Feder (10, 30) an einer Kante eines Bodenpanels aufweist, welche sich horizontal senkrecht zu der Kante erstreckt, und eine horizontal offene Federnut (9, 20) in einer benachbarten Kante eines anderen Bodenpanels aufweist, um die benachbarten Kanten in vertikaler Richtung miteinander zu verbinden, wobei die Verbinder an den langen Kanten gestaltet sind, um durch Abwinkeln verriegelt zu werden und die Verbinder an der kurzen Kante gestaltet sind, um durch vertikales Abklappen verriegelt zu werden, wobei eine lange Kante eines neuen Panels (1') in einer zweiten Reihe R2 gestaltet ist, um mit einer langen Kante (5b) eines ersten Panels (1'') in einer ersten Reihe R1 durch Anwinkeln verbunden zu werden, wobei eine kurze Kante (4b) des neuen Panels (1') und eine kurze Kante (4a) eines zweiten Panels (1) in einer zweiten Reihe R2 gestaltet sind, um durch die gleiche Verwinkelungsbewegung verbunden zu werden, wobei die Feder (30) an den kurzen Kanten ein gesondertes Material aufweist und in einer Verbindungsnut (40) angeordnet ist und die Feder mit einem flexiblen Teil mit einem Kantenbereich versehen ist, welcher möglichst dicht an der langen Kante des ersten Panels vorgesehen ist, wobei der Kantenabschnitt gestaltet ist, um horizontal während des Abklappens verlagert zu werden und um mit der Federnut (20) einer benachbarten Kante zusammenzuwirken, um die Bodenpanele miteinander in einer vertikalen Richtung zu verriegeln, wobei die ersten und zweiten Verbinder an den langen Kanten so gestaltet sind, dass eine Reibungskraft längs der langen Kanten in einem Verlegungswinkel (IA) niedriger ist als in einem Kontaktwinkel (CA), wenn die Panele mit der gleichen Anpresskraft (F1) gegeneinander gedrückt werden, mit ihren oberen Verbindungskanten in Kontakt, wobei der Verlegungswinkel etwa 25 Grad beträgt und der Kontaktwinkel ein kleinerer Winkel ist, welcher einem Anfangskontakt zwischen dem Kantenabschnitt und der benachbarten kurzen Kante entspricht.
• 12. Satz von Fußbodenpanelen wie im Abschnitt 11 angegeben, wobei die langen Kanten bei dem Kontaktwinkel wenigstens drei Kontaktpunkte (CP1, CP2, CP3, CP4) aufweisen.
• 13. Satz von Bodenpanelen wie in Abschnitt 12 angegeben, wobei die langen Kanten einen vertikalen oberen Kontaktpunkt CP1 und einen unteren Kontaktpunkt CP2 sowie einen horizontalen inneren Kontaktpunkt CP3 und einen horizontal äußeren Kontaktpunkt CP4 zwischen benachbarten Oberflächen der ersten und zweiten langen Kanten aufweisen, wenn das neue Panel mit seiner oberen Kante gegen die obere Kante des ersten Panels gedrückt wird.
• 14. Satz von Fußbodenpanelen wie in einem der Abschnitte 11–13 angegeben, wobei die Feder mit einem bogenförmig gestalteten Teil versehen und in Längsrichtung flexibel ist.
• 15. Satz von Fußbodenpanelen wie in einem der Abschnitte 11–14 angegeben, wobei die Feder mit flexiblen Vorsprüngen versehen ist.
• 16. Satz von Fußbodenpanelen wie in irgendeinem der Abschnitte 11–15 angegeben, wobei wenigstens ein Teil der Feder verschieblich in der Verbindungsnut (40) angeordnet ist.
• 17. Satz von Bodenpanelen wie in den Abschnitten 11–13 angegeben, wobei das flexible Teil ein Schnappersteg ist.
• 18. Satz von Bodenpanelen wie im Abschnitt 17 angegeben, wobei das flexible Teil ein Schnappersteg auf dem Streifenpanel ist, und wobei der Schnappersteg sich abwärts erstreckt.
• 19. Satz von Fußbodenpanelen wie in einem der vorstehenden Abschnitte 11–18 angegeben, wobei der Kontaktwinkel wenigstens etwa 10 Grad beträgt.
• 20. Satz von Fußbodenpanelen wie in einem der vorstehenden Abschnitte 11–20 angegeben, wobei der Kern des Panels HDF enthält.
• 21. Satz von Fußbodenpanelen wie in irgendeinem der vorhergehenden Abschnitte 11–20 angegeben, wobei das Panel eine Dicke von etwa 6–9 mm aufweist.
• 22. Satz von Fußbodenpanelen wie in einem der vorhergehenden Abschnitte 11–21 angegeben, wobei das Panel eine Länge von nicht mehr als 120 cm aufweist.
• 23. Satz von Fußbodenpanelen wie in einem der vorhergehenden Abschnitte 11–22 angegeben, wobei das Panel eine Breite von mehr als 20 cm aufweist.
• 24. Ein Satz von im Wesentlichen identischen Fußbodenpanelen (1, 1', 1''), jeweils umfassend lange Kanten (5a, 5b) und kurze Kanten (4a, 4b), versehen mit ersten und zweiten Verbindern (9, 10, 6, 8, 14, 20, 30), wobei die Verbinder einstückig mit den Bodenpanelen ausgebildet und gestaltet sind, um benachbarte Kanten miteinander zu verbinden, wobei der erste Verbinder einen Verriegelungsstreifen (6) mit einem aufwärts gerichteten Verriegelungselement (8) an einer Kante eines Bodenpanels und eine nach unten offene Verriegelungsnut (14) an einer benachbarten Kante eines anderen Bodenpanels aufweist, um die benachbarten Kanten horizontal in einer Richtung senkrecht zu den benachbarten Kanten zu verbinden, und der zweite Verbinder eine Feder (10, 30) an einer Kante eines Bodenpanels aufweist, welche sich horizontal senkrecht zu der Kante erstreckt, und eine horizontal offene Federnut (9, 20) in einer gegenüberliegenden Kante eines anderen Bodenpanels aufweist, um die benachbarten Kanten in vertikaler Richtung zu verbinden, wobei die Verbinder an den langen Kanten gestaltet sind, um durch Anwinkeln verriegelt zu werden und die Verbinder an der kurzen Kante gestaltet sind, um durch vertikales Abklappen verriegelt zu werden, wobei eine lange Kante eines neuen Panels (1') in einer zweiten Reihe R2 gestaltet ist, um mit einer langen Kante (5b) eines ersten Panels (1'') in einer ersten Reihe R1 durch Anwinkeln verbunden zu werden, wobei eine kurze Kante (4b) des neuen Panels (1') und eine kurze Kante (4a) eines zweiten Panels (1) in einer zweiten Reihe R2 gestaltet sind, um mittels der gleichen Winkelbewegung verbunden zu werden, wobei die Feder (30) an den kurzen Kanten ein gesondertes Material aufweist und in einer Verbindungsnut (40) angeordnet ist und die Feder ein flexibles Teil aufweist, welches gestaltet ist, um während des Abklappens horizontal verlagert zu werden und um mit der Federnut (20) einer benachbarten kurzen Kante zum Verriegeln der Bodenpanele in einer vertikalen Richtung zusammenzuwirken, wobei die ersten und zweiten Verbinder an den langen Kanten Reibungsglieder (53, 53') aufweisen, welche die Reibung längs der langen Kanten erhöhen, wenn die oberen Bereiche dieser Kanten unter einen Winkel gegeneinander gedrückt werden, während lediglich zwei Kontaktpunkte zwischen den ersten und zweiten Verbindern vorhanden sind.
• 25. Satz von Fußbodenpanelen wie im Abschnitt 24 angegeben, wobei das Reibungsglied kleine örtliche Vorsprünge aufweist.
• 26. Satz von Fußbodenpanelen wie in Abschnitt 24 oder 25 angegeben, wobei die Reibungsglieder ein dem Verriegelungssystem zugesetztes gesondertes Material aufweisen.
• 27. Satz von Bodenpanelen wie in einem der Abschnitte 24–26 angegeben, wobei das gesonderte Material Wachs ist.
• 28. Satz von Fußbodenpanelen wie in irgendeinem der Abschnitte 24–27 angegeben, wobei die langen Kanten unter dem Kontaktwinkel wenigstens drei Kontaktpunkte (CP1, CP2, CP3, CP4) aufweisen.
• 29. Satz von Fußbodenpanelen wie in Abschnitt 28 angegeben, wobei die langen Kanten einen vertikalen oberen Kontaktpunkt CP1 und einen vertikalen unteren Kontaktpunkt CP2 sowie einen horizontalen inneren Kontaktpunkt CP3 und einen horizontalen äußeren Kontaktpunkt CP4 zwischen benachbarten Oberflächen der ersten und zweiten langen Kanten aufweisen, wenn das neue Panel mit seiner oberen Kante gegen die obere Kante des ersten Panels gedrückt ist.
• 30. Satz von Fußbodenpanelen wie in einem der Abschnitte 24–29 angegeben, wobei wenigstens ein Teil der Feder verschieblich in der Verbindungsnut (40) angeordnet ist.
• 31. Satz von Fußbodenpanelen nach einem der Abschnitte 24–30, wobei die Feder einen bogenförmig gestalteten Abschnitt besitzt und in Längsrichtung flexibel ist.
• 32. Satz von Fußbodenpanelen nach einem der Abschnitte 24–31, wobei die Feder flexible Vorsprünge aufweist.
• 33. Satz von Fußbodenpanelen wie in einem der Abschnitte 24–32 angegeben, wobei der flexible Abschnitt ein Schnappersteg ist.
• 34. Satz von Fußbodenpanelen nach einem der Abschnitte 24–33, wobei der flexible Abschnitt ein Schnappersteg auf dem Streifenpanel ist und der Schnappersteg sich abwärts erstreckt.
• 35. Satz von Fußbodenpanelen wie in einem der vorangehenden Abschnitte 24–34 angegeben, wobei der Kern der Panele HDF umfasst.
• 36. Satz von Fußbodenpanelen wie in einem der Abschnitte 24–35 angegeben, wobei das Panel eine Dicke von etwa 6–9 mm aufweist.
• 37. Satz von Fußbodenpanelen wie in einem der Abschnitte 24–36 angegeben, wobei das Panel eine Länge von nicht mehr als 120 cm aufweist.
• 38. Satz von Fußbodenpanelen nach einem der Abschnitte 24–37, wobei das Panel eine etwa 20 cm übersteigende Breite aufweist.
• 39. Ein Satz von im Wesentlichen identischen Fußbodenpanelen (1, 1', 1''), jeweils umfassend lange Kanten (5a, 5b) und kurze Kanten (4a, 4b), versehen mit ersten und zweiten Verbindern (9, 10, 6, 8, 14, 20, 30), wobei die Verbinder einstückig mit den Bodenpanelen ausgebildet und gestaltet sind, um benachbarte Kanten miteinander zu verbinden, wobei der erste Verbinder einen Verriegelungsstreifen (6) mit einem nach oben gerichteten Verriegelungselement (8) an einer Kante eines Bodenpanels und eine nach unten offene Verriegelungsnut (14) an einer benachbarten Kante eines anderen Bodenpanels aufweist, um die benachbarten Kanten horizontal in einer Richtung senkrecht zu den benachbarten Kanten zu verriegeln, und der zweite Verbinder eine Feder (10, 30) an einer Kante eines Bodenpanels aufweist, welche sich horizontal senkrecht zu der Kante erstreckt, und eine horizontal offene Federnut (9, 20) in einer benachbarten Kante eines anderen Bodenpanels, um die benachbarten Kanten in vertikaler Richtung zu verbinden, wobei die Verbinder an den langen Kanten gestaltet sind, um durch Anwinkeln verriegelt zu werden und die Verbinder an der kurzen Kante konfiguriert sind, um durch vertikales Abklappen verriegelt zu werden, wobei eine lange Kante eines neuen Panels (1') in einer zweiten Reihe R2 gestaltet ist, um verbunden zu werden mit einer langen Kante (5b) eines ersten Panels (1'') in einer ersten Reihe R1 durch Anwinkeln, wobei eine kurze Kante (4b) des neuen Panels (1') und eine kurze Kante (4a) eines zweiten Panels (1) in einer zweiten Reihe R2 gestaltet sind, um durch die gleiche Winkelbewegung verbunden zu werden, wobei die Feder (30) an der kurzen Kante aus einem gesonderten Material besteht und mit einer Verbindungsnut (40) verbunden ist, wobei die Feder einen flexiblen Teil aufweist, welcher gestaltet ist, um während des Abklappens horizontal verschoben zu werden und um mit der Federnut (20) einer benachbarten kurzen Kante zusammenzuwirken, um die Bodenpanele in einer vertikalen Richtung miteinander zu verriegeln, wobei die Verbinder an den langen und kurzen Kanten derart gestaltet sind, dass das zweite und neue Panel, wobei eines der beiden Panele auf eine Länge (W3) von etwa 20 cm zurechtgeschnitten, nicht von dem anderen Panel wegbewegt wird, wenn die Panele sich in einer Kontaktposition und in einem Verlegungswinkel (IA) befinden und während des vertikalen Abklappens.
• 40. Satz von Bodenpanelen wie in Abschnitt 39 angegeben, wobei die langen Kanten bei einem Kontaktwinkel wenigstens drei Kontaktpunkte (CP1, CP2, CP3, CP4) aufweisen.
• 41. Satz von Bodenpanelen wie in Abschnitt 40 angegeben, wobei die langen Kanten einen vertikalen oberen Kontaktpunkt CP1 und einen unteren Kontaktpunkt CP2 sowie einen horizontalen inneren Kontaktpunkt CP3 und einen horizontalen äußeren Kontaktpunkt CP4 zwischen benachbarten Oberflächen der ersten und zweiten langen Kanten aufweisen, wenn das neue Panel mit seiner oberen Kante gegen die obere Kante des ersten Panels gedrückt ist.
• 42. Satz von Fußbodenpanelen nach einem der Abschnitte 39–41, wobei Reibungsglieder in dem Langkanten-Verriegelungssystem vorgesehen sind.
• 43. Satz von Bodenpanelen wie in Abschnitt 42 angegeben, wobei die Reibungsglieder als kleine örtliche Vorsprünge ausgebildet sind.
• 44. Satz von Fußbodenpanelen nach Abschnitt 42 oder 43, wobei die Reinigungsmittel ein in das Verriegelungssystem eingebrachtes separates Material enthalten.
• 45. Satz von Fußbodenpanelen nach Abschnitt 44, wobei das separate Material Wachs enthält.
• 46. Satz von Fußbodenpanelen nach einem der Abschnitte 39–45, wobei die Feder mit einem bogenförmig gestalteten Abschnitt versehen und in Längsrichtung flexibel ist.
• 47. Satz von Fußbodenpanelen nach einem der Abschnitte 39–46, wobei die Feder flexible Vorsprünge enthält.
• 48. Satz von Fußbodenpanelen nach einem der Abschnitte 39–45, wobei der flexible Abschnitt ein Schnappersteg ist.
• 49. Satz von Fußbodenpanelen nach Abschnitt 47, wobei der flexible Abschnitt ein Schnapperabschnitt auf dem Streifenpanel ist und wobei sich der Schnappersteg abwärts erstreckt.
• 50. Satz von Fußbodenpanelen nach einem der vorangehenden Abschnitte 39–49, wobei der Kern der Panele HDF umfasst.
• 51. Satz von Fußbodenpanelen nach einem der vorstehenden Abschnitte 39–50, wobei das Panel eine Dicke von etwa 6–9 mm aufweist.
• 52. Satz von Fußbodenpanelen nach einem der vorstehenden Abschnitte 39–51, wobei das Panel eine Länge von nicht mehr als etwa 120 cm aufweist.
• 53. Satz von Fußbodenpanelen nach einem der vorstehenden Abschnitte 39–52, wobei das Panel eine Breite von mehr als etwa 20 cm aufweist.
• 54. Eine flexible Feder zum vertikalen Verriegeln von Fußbodenbrettern, wobei die flexible Feder zwei flexible Teile aufweist, nämlich ein inneres flexibles Teil, welches gestaltet ist, um in einem inneren Teil einer Nut angeordnet zu werden, welche in einer Panelkante ausgebildet ist, und ein äußeres flexibles Teil, welches gestaltet ist, um an dem äußeren Teil der Nut angeordnet zu werden.
• 55. Eine extrudierte flexible Feder, gestaltet zur Verwendung als vertikale Verriegelung von Fußbodenbrettern, wobei die Feder auf einem Oberflächenbereich maschinell bearbeitet ist.
• 56. Ein Satz von im Wesentlichen identischen Fußbodenpanelen (1, 1', 1''), jeweils aufweisend lange Kanten (5a, 5b) und kurze Kanten (4a, 4b), versehen mit ersten und zweiten Verbindern (9, 10, 6, 8, 14, 20, 30), wobei die Verbinder einstückig mit den Fußbodenpanelen ausgebildet und gestaltet sind, um benachbarte Kanten vertikal und horizontal miteinander zu verbinden, und die lange Kanten gestaltet sind, um durch Anwinkeln verriegelt zu werden und die kurzen Kanten durch vertikales Abklappen, wobei die Verbinder (9, 10, 6, 8, 14) der langen Kanten wenigstens drei gesonderte Kontaktpunkte (CP1, CP2, CP3, CP4) oder Kontaktoberflächen zwischen benachbarten Teilen der Verbinder aufweisen, wenn ein Panel (1') mit seiner oberen Kanten gegen die obere Kante eines anderen Panels (1'') unter einem Winkel gegen die Hauptebene (HP) von wenigstens etwa 10 Grad angedrückt wird.
• 57. Ein Satz aus im Wesentlichen identischen Fußbodenpanelen (1, 1', 1''), jeweils umfassend lange Kanten (5a, 5b) und kurze Kanten (4a, 4b), versehen mit ersten und zweiten Verbindern (9, 10, 6, 8, 14, 20, 30), wobei die Verbinder einstückig mit den Fußbodenpanelen ausgebildet und gestaltet sind, um benachbarte Kanten vertikal und horizontal zu verbinden, und die lange Kanten gestaltet sind, um durch Anwinkeln und die kurzen Kanten durch vertikales Abklappen verriegelt zu werden, wobei die ersten und zweiten Verbinder an den langen Kanten derart gestaltet sind, dass eine Reibungskraft längs der langen Kanten unter einem Verlegungswinkel (IA) niedriger als in einem Kontaktwinkel (CA), wenn die Panele mit der gleichen Druckkraft (F1) mit den oberen Verbindungskanten in Kontakt gegeneinander gedrückt werden, wobei der Verlegungswinkel etwa 25 Grad beträgt und der Kontaktwinkel ein kleinerer Winkel ist, welcher einem anfänglichen Kontakt zwischen dem Kantenabschanitt und der benachbarten kurzen Kante entspricht.
• 58. Ein Satz von im Wesentlichen identischen Fußbodenpanelen (1, 1', 1''), jeweils umfassend lange Kanten (5a, 5b) und kurze Kanten (4a, 4b), versehen mit ersten und zweiten Verbindern (9, 10, 6, 8, 14, 20, 30), wobei die Verbinder einstückig mit den Bodenpanelen ausgebildet und gestaltet sind, um benachbarte Kanten vertikal und horizontal zu verbinden, wobei die lange Kanten gestaltet sind, um durch Anwinkeln und die kurzen Kanten durch vertikales Abklappen verriegelt zu werden, wobei die Verbinder (9, 10, 6, 8, 14) an den kurzen Kanten Verriegelungsoberflächen zwischen einer Verriegelungsnut (14) und einem Verriegelungselement (8) aufweisen, welche für ein horizontales Verriegeln der kurzen Kanten gestaltet sind, wobei die Verriegelungsoberfläche im Wesentlichen vertikal verlaufen und sich über eine Höhe erstrecken, welche wenigstens etwa das 0,1-fache der Dicke T des Bodenpanels beträgt.
• 59. Ein Kurzkanten-Verriegelungssystem für vertikales und horizontales Verriegeln benachbarter Kanten von zwei ähnlichen Fußbodenpanelen, welche ein Verriegeln benachbarter Kanten durch vertikales Abklappen oder vertikales Verriegeln gestatten, wobei das Verriegelungssystem eine Kante mit einem Streifen (6), ein Verriegelungselement (8) eine einstückig mit dem Kern eines der Panele ausgebildete flexible Feder (30), die auch als ein mit dem Panel verbundenes separates Material ausgebildet sein kann, umfasst, wobei die Feder sich abwärts erstreckt und eine hinterschnittene Nut (71) aufweist, welche hinter der flexiblen Feder (30) ausgebildet ist.

Further embodiments are summarized below in numbered sections:

• 1. A set of substantially identical floor panels ( 1 . 1' . 1'' ), each containing long edges ( 5a . 5b ) and short edges ( 4a . 4b ), which with first and second connectors ( 9 . 10 . 6 . 8th . 14 . 20 . 30 ), wherein the connectors are formed integrally with the floor panels and configured to interconnect adjacent edges, the first connector having a locking strip (Fig. 6 ) with an upwardly directed locking element ( 8th ) on an edge of a floor panel and a downwardly open locking groove ( 14 ) on an adjacent edge of another floor panel to connect the adjacent edges horizontally in a direction perpendicular to the adjacent edges, and the second connector comprises a spring (10); 10 . 30 ) on an edge of a floor panel which extends horizontally perpendicular to the edge, and a horizontally open spring groove ( 9 . 20 ) in an adjacent edge of another floor panel to interconnect the adjacent edges in the vertical direction, the connectors and the long edges being configured to be lockable by angling and the connectors to be configured at the short edge they can be locked by vertical folding, with a long edge of a new panel ( 1' ) in a second row R2 is designed to have a long edge ( 5b ) of a first panel ( 1'' ) in a first row R1 to be connected by angling, with a short edge ( 4b ) of the new panel ( 1' ) and a short edge ( 4a ) of a second panel ( 1 ) are configured in a second row so that they are connectable to the same bending movement, wherein the connectors ( 9 . 10 . 6 . 8th . 14 ) of the long edges have at least three separate contact points (CP1, CP2, CP3, CP4) or contact surfaces between adjacent parts of the connectors when the new panel (FIG. 1' ) with its upper edge against the upper edge of the first panel ( 1'' ) is pressed against the main plane (HP) at an angle of at least about 10 degrees.
• 2. The set of floor panels as given in section 1, where the long edges have at least four contact points (CP1, CP2, CP3, CP4).
• A set of floor panels as set forth in Section 2, wherein the long edges have vertical upper contact points CP1 and lower contact points CP2 and horizontal inner contact points CP3 and outer contact points CP4 between adjacent surfaces of the first and second long edges upper edge against the upper edge of the first panel is pressed at an angle of about 0 to 10 degrees against the main plane.
• A set of floor panels as set forth in any of the preceding sections, wherein the spring has a separate material at the short edges and is provided with a flexible portion designed to be horizontally displaced during folding and with the tongue groove cooperate in the adjacent short edge to lock the floor panels together in a vertical direction (D1) parallel to the vertical plane (VP).
• 5. Set of floor panels as stated in section 4, wherein the spring has an arcuate shaped part and is flexible in the longitudinal direction.
• 6. Set of floor panels as specified in section 4 or 5, wherein the spring is provided with flexible projections.
• A set of floor panels as set forth in any of 4-6, wherein a portion of the spring is slidable in the connecting groove (10). 40 ) is arranged.
• 8. Set of floor panels as specified in any of sections 4-7, wherein the flexible part is a snap bar.
• 9. Set of floor panels as in section 8th wherein the flexible member is a snap ridge on the strip panel and wherein the snap ridge extends downwardly.
• A set of floor panels as recited in any of the preceding sections, wherein the angle is at least about 15 degrees.
• 11. A set of substantially identical floor panels ( 1 . 1' . 11 '' ) ^, each comprising long edges ( 5a . 5b ) and short edges ( 4a . 4b ) and each provided with first and second connectors ( 9 . 10 . 6 . 8th . 14 . 20 . 30 ), wherein the connectors are formed integrally with the floor panels and configured to interconnect adjacent edges, the first connector having a locking strip (Fig. 6 ) with an upwardly directed locking element ( 8th ) on an edge of a floor panel and a downwardly open locking groove ( 14 ) at the adjacent edge of another floor panel, to lock the adjacent edges horizontally in a direction perpendicular to the adjacent edges, and the second connector a spring ( 10 . 30 ) on an edge of a floor panel which extends horizontally perpendicular to the edge, and a horizontally open spring groove ( 9 . 20 ) in an adjacent edge of another floor panel to interconnect the adjacent edges in a vertical direction, the connectors being formed on the long edges to be interlocked and the connectors formed on the short edge to be vertical Fold down to be locked using a long edge of a new panel ( 1' ) in a second row R2 is designed to work with a long edge ( 5b ) of a first panel ( 1'' ) in a first row R1 by angling, with a short edge ( 4b ) of the new panel ( 1' ) and a short edge ( 4a ) of a second panel ( 1 ) in a second row R2 to be connected by the same Verwinkelungsbewegung, wherein the spring ( 30 ) has a separate material at the short edges and in a connecting groove ( 40 ) and the spring is provided with a flexible part having an edge region which is provided as close as possible to the long edge of the first panel, wherein the edge portion is designed to be displaced horizontally during the folding down and with the spring groove ( 20 ) of an adjacent edge to lock the floor panels together in a vertical direction, wherein the first and second connectors at the long edges are configured so that a frictional force along the long edges is lower at a laying angle (IA) than at a contact angle (CA), when the panels are pressed against each other with the same pressing force (F1), with their upper joint edges in contact, the laying angle is about 25 degrees and the contact angle is a smaller angle, which is an initial contact between the edge portion and the adjacent short Edge corresponds.
• 12. Set of floor panels as indicated in section 11, wherein the long edges at the contact angle have at least three contact points (CP1, CP2, CP3, CP4).
• 13. A set of floor panels as set forth in Section 12, wherein the long edges have a vertical upper contact point CP1 and a lower contact point CP2 and a horizontal inner contact point CP3 and a horizontal outer contact point CP4 between adjacent surfaces of the first and second long edges new panel is pressed with its upper edge against the upper edge of the first panel.
• 14. A set of floor panels as set forth in any of sections 11-13, wherein the spring is provided with an arcuate shaped portion and is flexible in the longitudinal direction.
• A set of floor panels as set forth in any of sections 11-14, wherein the spring is provided with flexible protrusions.
• 16. A set of floor panels as set forth in any of sections 11-15, wherein at least a portion of the spring is slidable in the connecting groove (16). 40 ) is arranged.
• 17. Set of floor panels as specified in sections 11-13, wherein the flexible part is a snap bar.
• A set of floor panels as set forth in Section 17, wherein the flexible part is a snap bar on the strip panel, and wherein the snap bar extends downwardly.
• 19. A set of floor panels as set forth in any of the preceding sections 11-18, wherein the contact angle is at least about 10 degrees.
• A set of floor panels as set forth in any of the preceding Sections 11-20, wherein the core of the panel contains HDF.
• A set of floor panels as set forth in any one of the preceding sections 11-20, wherein the panel has a thickness of about 6-9 mm.
• A set of floor panels as set forth in any of the preceding sections 11-21, the panel having a length of not more than 120 cm.
• A set of floor panels as set forth in any of the preceding sections 11-22, the panel having a width greater than 20 cm.
• 24. A set of substantially identical floor panels ( 1 . 1' . 1'' ), each comprising long edges ( 5a . 5b ) and short edges ( 4a . 4b ), provided with first and second connectors ( 9 . 10 . 6 . 8th . 14 . 20 . 30 ), wherein the connectors are formed integrally with the floor panels and configured to interconnect adjacent edges, the first connector having a locking strip (Fig. 6 ) with an upwardly directed locking element ( 8th ) on an edge of a floor panel and a downwardly open locking groove ( 14 ) at an adjacent edge of another floor panel to connect the adjacent edges horizontally in a direction perpendicular to the adjacent edges, and the second connector comprises a spring (10). 10 . 30 ) on an edge of a floor panel which extends horizontally perpendicular to the edge, and a horizontally open spring groove ( 9 . 20 ) in an opposite edge of another floor panel to connect the adjacent edges in the vertical direction, the connectors being formed on the long edges to be locked by angling and the connectors formed on the short edge to be folded down vertically being locked, with a long edge of a new panel ( 1' ) in a second row R2 is designed to have a long edge ( 5b ) of a first panel ( 1'' ) in a first row R1 by angling, with a short edge ( 4b ) of the new panel ( 1' ) and a short edge ( 4a ) of a second panel ( 1 ) are designed in a second row R2 to be connected by means of the same angular movement, wherein the spring ( 30 ) has a separate material at the short edges and in a connecting groove ( 40 ) is arranged and the spring has a flexible part which is designed to be displaced horizontally during the folding and with the spring groove ( 20 an adjacent short edge for locking the floor panels in a vertical direction, the first and second connectors having friction members (32) on the long edges. 53 . 53 ' ), which increase the friction along the long edges when the upper portions of these edges are pressed against each other at an angle, while there are only two points of contact between the first and second connectors.
• 25th set of floor panels as indicated in section 24, wherein the friction member has small local projections.
• 26. A set of floor panels as set forth in Section 24 or 25, wherein the friction members comprise a separate material added to the locking system.
• 27. Set of floor panels as specified in any one of sections 24-26, wherein the separate material is wax.
• A set of floor panels as set forth in any of sections 24-27, wherein the long edges at the contact angle have at least three points of contact (CP1, CP2, CP3, CP4).
• 29. A set of floor panels as set forth in Section 28, wherein the long edges have a vertical upper contact point CP1 and a vertical lower contact point CP2 and a horizontal inner contact point CP3 and a horizontal outer contact point CP4 between adjacent surfaces of the first and second long edges the new panel is pressed with its upper edge against the upper edge of the first panel.
• 30. Set of floor panels as set forth in any one of sections 24-29, wherein at least a portion of the spring is slidable in the connecting groove (10). 40 ) is arranged.
• 31. Set of floor panels according to any one of sections 24-30, wherein the spring has an arcuate shaped section and is flexible in the longitudinal direction.
• 32. A set of floor panels according to any of sections 24-31, wherein the spring has flexible protrusions.
• 33. Set of floor panels as specified in any of sections 24-32, wherein the flexible section is a snap bar.
• 34. The set of floor panels of any one of clauses 24-33, wherein the flexible section is a snap bar on the strip panel and the snap bar extends downwardly.
• 35. The set of floor panels as recited in any of preceding paragraphs 24-34, wherein the core of the panel comprises HDF.
• 36. Set of floor panels as specified in any one of sections 24-35, wherein the panel has a thickness of about 6-9 mm.
• 37. Set of floor panels as specified in any of sections 24-36, the panel being no more than 120 cm in length.
• 38. Set of floor panels according to any one of sections 24-37, wherein the panel has a width exceeding about 20 cm.
• 39. A set of substantially identical floor panels ( 1 . 1' . 1'' ), each comprising long edges ( 5a . 5b ) and short edges ( 4a . 4b ), provided with first and second connectors ( 9 . 10 . 6 . 8th . 14 . 20 . 30 ), wherein the connectors are formed integrally with the floor panels and configured to interconnect adjacent edges, the first connector having a locking strip (Fig. 6 ) with an upwardly directed locking element ( 8th ) on an edge of a floor panel and a downwardly open locking groove ( 14 ) on an adjacent edge of another floor panel to lock the adjacent edges horizontally in a direction perpendicular to the adjacent edges, and the second connector comprises a spring (14); 10 . 30 ) on an edge of a floor panel which extends horizontally perpendicular to the edge, and a horizontally open spring groove ( 9 . 20 ) in an adjacent edge of another floor panel to connect the adjacent edges in the vertical direction, the connectors being formed on the long edges to be locked by angling and the connectors on the short edge configured to be locked by vertical folding with a long edge of a new panel ( 1' ) in a second row R2 is designed to be connected with a long edge ( 5b ) of a first panel ( 1'' ) in a first row R1 by angling, with a short edge ( 4b ) of the new panel ( 1' ) and a short edge ( 4a ) of a second panel ( 1 ) are designed in a second row R2 to be connected by the same angular movement, wherein the spring ( 30 ) at the short edge of a separate material and with a connecting groove ( 40 ), the spring having a flexible part which is designed to be displaced horizontally during folding and to engage with the spring groove (10). 20 ) of an adjacent short edge to lock the floor panels together in a vertical direction, the connectors on the long and short edges being shaped such that the second and new panels, one of the two panels being at a length (W3) of cut about 20 cm, not moved away from the other panel when the panels are in a contact position and at a laying angle (IA) and during vertical folding.
• 40. Set of floor panels as indicated in section 39, wherein the long edges have at least three contact points (CP1, CP2, CP3, CP4) at a contact angle.
• 41. Set of floor panels as indicated in section 40, wherein the long edges have a vertical upper contact point CP1 and a lower contact point CP2 and a horizontal inner contact point CP3 and a horizontal outer contact point CP4 between adjacent surfaces of the first and second long edges new panel is pressed with its upper edge against the upper edge of the first panel.
• 42. Set of floor panels according to any one of sections 39-41, wherein friction members are provided in the long edge locking system.
• 43. Set of floor panels as indicated in section 42, wherein the friction members are formed as small local projections.
• 44. Set of floor panels according to clause 42 or 43, wherein the cleaning agents contain a separate material introduced into the locking system.
• 45. Set of floor panels according to Section 44, wherein the separate material contains wax.
• 46. Set of floor panels according to any one of sections 39-45, wherein the spring is provided with an arcuate shaped section and is flexible in the longitudinal direction.
• 47. A set of floor panels according to any of sections 39-46, wherein the spring includes flexible protrusions.
• 48. The set of floor panels of any one of sections 39-45, wherein the flexible section is a snap bar.
• 49. The set of floor panels of clause 47, wherein the flexible portion is a snap portion on the strip panel and wherein the snap bar extends downwardly.
• 50. The set of floor panels according to any of the preceding paragraphs 39-49, wherein the core of the panel comprises HDF.
• 51. The set of floor panels according to any of the preceding sections 39-50, wherein the panel has a thickness of about 6-9 mm.
• 52. The set of floor panels of any of the preceding sections 39-51, wherein the panel has a length of no more than about 120 cm.
• 53. The set of floor panels of any of the preceding sections 39-52, wherein the panel has a width greater than about 20 cm.
• 54. A flexible spring for vertically locking floorboards, the flexible spring having two flexible parts, namely an inner flexible part, which is designed to be disposed in an inner part of a groove formed in a panel edge, and a outer flexible member which is designed to be disposed on the outer part of the groove.
• 55. An extruded flexible spring designed for use as vertical interlocking floorboards wherein the spring is machined on a surface area.
• 56. A set of substantially identical floor panels ( 1 . 1' . 1'' ), each having long edges ( 5a . 5b ) and short edges ( 4a . 4b ), provided with first and second connectors ( 9 . 10 . 6 . 8th . 14 . 20 . 30 ), wherein the connectors are integrally formed with the floor panels and designed to connect adjacent edges vertically and horizontally, and the long edges are designed to be locked by angling and the short edges are folded down vertically, the connectors (FIGS. 9 . 10 . 6 . 8th . 14 ) of the long edges have at least three separate contact points (CP1, CP2, CP3, CP4) or contact surfaces between adjacent parts of the connectors when a panel ( 1' ) with its upper edges against the upper edge of another panel ( 1'' ) is pressed at an angle to the major plane (HP) of at least about 10 degrees.
• 57. A set of substantially identical floor panels ( 1 . 1' . 1'' ), each comprising long edges ( 5a . 5b ) and short edges ( 4a . 4b ), provided with first and second connectors ( 9 . 10 . 6 . 8th . 14 . 20 . 30 ), wherein the connectors are integrally formed with the floor panels and designed to connect adjacent edges vertically and horizontally, and the long edges are designed to be bent by angling and short edges are locked by vertical folding, wherein the first and second connectors are designed at the long edges such that a frictional force along the long edges at a laying angle (IA) lower than in a contact angle (CA) when the panels with the same pressing force (F1) are pressed against each other in contact with the upper joint edges, wherein the laying angle is about 25 degrees and the contact angle is a smaller angle corresponding to an initial contact between the Kantenabschanitt and the adjacent short edge.
• 58. A set of substantially identical floor panels ( 1 . 1' . 1'' ), each comprising long edges ( 5a . 5b ) and short edges ( 4a . 4b ), provided with first and second connectors ( 9 . 10 . 6 . 8th . 14 . 20 . 30 ), wherein the connectors are integrally formed with the floor panels and designed to connect adjacent edges vertically and horizontally, the long edges being designed to be locked by angling and the short edges by vertical folding, the connectors (FIGS. 9 . 10 . 6 . 8th . 14 ) at the short edges locking surfaces between a locking groove ( 14 ) and a locking element ( 8th ) configured for horizontally locking the short edges, the locking surfaces being substantially vertical and extending over a height which is at least about 0.1 times the thickness T of the floor panel.
• 59. A short edge locking system for vertically and horizontally locking adjacent edges of two similar floor panels which allow adjacent edges to be locked by vertical folding or vertical locking, the locking system comprising an edge with a strip (Fig. 6 ), a locking element ( 8th ) an integrally formed with the core of one of the panels flexible spring ( 30 ), which may also be formed as a separate material connected to the panel, the spring extending downwardly and an undercut groove (Fig. 71 ), which behind the flexible spring ( 30 ) is trained.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• WO 2006/043893 [0003]
• WO 2003/016654 [0004]

Claims (11)

A locking system for the short edges for vertically and horizontally locking adjacent edges of two similar floor panels which allow locking by vertical folding or vertical locking, characterized in that the locking system has edges with a strip (Fig. 6 ), a locking element ( 8th ) and a locking groove ( 14 ) for horizontally locking the adjacent edge and for vertically locking the adjacent edges of a flexible spring ( 30 ) made of a separate material which is connected to an edge of the panels, wherein the flexible spring ( 30 ) comprises two flexible parts, namely one in an inner region of a groove ( 40 ) arranged inner flexible part ( 62 ) and an outer flexible part ( 61 ), which is designed to be arranged in an outer region of the groove, wherein the outer flexible part ( 61 ) extends vertically upwards and downwards. A locking system of the short edges according to claim 1, wherein the outer part ( 61 ) is stiffer and stronger than the inner part ( 62 ). A locking system of the short edges according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the outer part ( 61 ) is stiff and not bendable during locking. A locking system of the short edges according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the outer flexible part ( 61 ) as a rigid projection and the inner flexible part ( 62 ) is designed as a flexible knee joint, wherein the rigid projection and the knee joint are designed so that the rigid projection does not bend horizontally during locking. Flexible spring ( 30 ) for vertically locking floorboards, characterized in that the flexible spring comprises two flexible parts, namely an inner flexible part ( 62 ) which is designed to be formed in an inner area of a groove formed in a panel edge ( 40 ) and an outer flexible part ( 61 ) which is designed to be fixed to the outer portion of the groove (FIG. 61 ) and which extends vertically upwards or downwards. Flexible spring according to claim 5, wherein the outer part ( 61 ) is stiffer and stronger than the inner part ( 62 ). Flexible spring according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the outer part ( 61 ) is stiff and not bendable during locking. A flexible spring according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the spring is adapted to be connected to a panel edge comprising a strip ( 6 ) with a locking element ( 8th ) having. A flexible spring according to any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein the spring is shaped to be connected to a panel edge having a downwardly open locking groove (Fig. 14 ) having. Flexible spring according to one of claims 5 to 9, wherein the outer flexible part ( 61 ) as a rigid projection and the inner flexible part ( 62 ) is designed as a flexible knee joint, wherein the rigid projection and the knee joint are designed so that the rigid projection does not bend horizontally during locking. Flexible spring ( 30 ) for vertically locking floorboards, characterized in that the flexible spring comprises a rigid projection and a flexible knee joint, wherein the rigid projection and the knee joint are designed such that the rigid projection does not bend horizontally during locking.

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