EP1190149A1

EP1190149A1 - Panel and panel fastening system

Info

Publication number: EP1190149A1
Application number: EP99957874A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Hans-Jürgen HANNIG; Ralf Eisermann
Original assignee: Akzenta Paneele and Profile GmbH
Current assignee: Akzenta Paneele and Profile GmbH
Priority date: 1999-06-30
Filing date: 1999-10-09
Publication date: 2002-03-27
Anticipated expiration: 2019-10-09
Also published as: ES2182582T3; PT1190149E; EP1190149B1; DE59908387D1; WO2001002670A1; CA2377799C; US6505452B1; CA2377919A1; EP2312087B1; EP1243721A2; AU1546600A; EP2312087A3; RU2224070C2; EP2116666B1; US7896571B1; EP1243721A3; CA2377919C; ES2228133T3; EP1165906B1; CA2377799A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a panel fastening system, especially floor panels, whose narrow sides are fitted with retaining profiles, whereby the retaining profile of a front narrow side and the retaining profile of the opposite back narrow side and the retaining profile of a left narrow side and the retaining profile of the opposite right narrow side of a panel match each other in such a way that similar panels can be fixed to one another, whereby the mutually matching retaining profiles have complementary hook elements that can be hooked into one another and the hook elements have retaining surfaces by means of which the panels are held against each other when mounted in such a way that a gap-free surface is obtained.

Description

Panel and fastening system for panels

The invention relates to a fastening system for panels, in particular for floor panels, the narrow sides of which are provided with holding profiles, with mutually opposite holding profiles of a panel fitting to one another in such a way that similar panels can be fastened to one another.

Fastening systems are known for laying panels on floors or for attaching panels to other building surfaces, which start from a tongue and groove fastening system and whose groove is provided with an undercut in which the tongue can be fixed in such a way that it can be fixed by Pulling apart two connected panels in the installation level cannot be separated.

Disadvantageously, only relatively small undercuts can be realized, since otherwise the tongue and groove cannot be joined together. These small undercuts only result in a good hold if the connected holding profiles have a sufficient length and the load can thus be distributed over the entire length of the panel. The known tongue and groove-based holding profiles are therefore only poorly suited for the short narrow sides of a panel.

A further disadvantage is seen in the fact that an undercut tongue and groove connection, which can only be joined and separated by elastic deformation of the holding profiles, wears out quickly after repeated laying. Repeated laying is possible in the worn state, but the retaining profiles wear out and the locking function deteriorates.

The invention is therefore based on the object of providing a fastening system which has a simple construction and is more durable than the known fastening Systems.

According to the invention, the object is achieved in that at least one pair of opposing holding profiles has complementary hook elements which can be hooked into one another and that the hook elements are provided with holding surfaces by means of which the panels are held against one another in the assembled state in such a way that there is a gap-free floor surface results.

The durability of the fastening system is significantly increased by the simple measure of replacing the slight undercut of the known fastening system with extended hook elements. The success of the invention results when at least the short narrow sides of the panels are provided with the proposed hook elements.

The hook elements provide a degree of undercut that is around a third of the total panel thickness. The type of locking of the short narrow sides of the panels is reminiscent of roof tiles that reach behind one another.

In the known tongue and groove connection, only one of two groove walls is undercut. This is gripped by the corresponding side of the spring and provides support. The other groove wall and the corresponding side of the tongue do not provide any hold. In contrast, the fastening system according to the invention has two interlocking hook elements and there is no need for a second groove wall without an undercut.

A 2 A first holding profile of a panel is simply provided with a hook element which is formed from a web which projects approximately perpendicularly from the narrow side and is arranged on the top of the panel, a hook projection pointing towards the underside of the panel being arranged at the free end of the web , The rear holding profile of this panel is provided with a hook element, which consists of one of the web protrudes from the narrow side and is arranged on the underside of the panel, a hook projection pointing towards the top of the panel being arranged at the free end of this web.

The top of the panel goes from the area with the thickness of the complete panel with a gradation into the web. The web has a thickness that corresponds to a third of the panel thickness. The same applies to the underside of the panel. Opposite the hook element on the upper side, the underside web merges from the area of the complete thickness of the panel with a gradation in thickness into the web, which likewise has about a third of the thickness of the panel. The webs and the hook projections are formed much more solid than the undercut of the known tongue and groove connection. This results in an improvement in strength and durability for the fastening system according to the invention.

A 3 The hook projection of the underside web is advantageously in the assembled state of a panel on the top web of a second panel. In addition, air is provided between the hook projection of the upper web of the second panel and the lower web of the first panel.

Of course, this is also reversible, so that air is provided between the hook projection of the lower web of the first panel and the upper web of the second panel. It is important that a pair of web / hook projection always abut one another in the assembled state and the other pair of web / hook projection has air. If the fastening system were constructed in such a way that both pairs of web / hook projection are in contact with one another, then no clear system would be achieved due to tolerances in the manufacture of the holding profiles and sometimes one or the other pair of web / hook projection would be in contact.

A 4 A further development of the fastening system provides that the holding surfaces of the hook projections engage behind in such a way that complementary hook projections can only be hooked into one another by elastic deformation. The panels are thus locked perpendicular to the installation level.

In this way it can be prevented that the hook elements can be moved apart under load, for example because of an uneven surface. When a panel is loaded, the connected panel is moved in the same direction with the loaded panel. The joint remains together.

A 5 Simply the holding surfaces of the hook projections are inclined and the hook projections taper from their free ends towards the webs. Furthermore, the holding surfaces of complementary hook jumps nestle against one another at least in regions. This is a simple design of the hook projections provided with an undercut, because an easy-to-produce flat holding surface is provided as the undercut.

A 6 A further benefit is obtained when the end face of the upper hook projection of one panel in the assembled state lies against the second panel at least in the area of the upper side of the panel and air is provided between the lower hook projection of the second panel and the end face of the first panel. This measure in turn serves to create an unambiguous installation of two connected panels through the constructive design.

A 7 An alternative embodiment provides that at least one of the end faces of a hook element of a panel has at its free end a protruding locking element which, in the assembled state, engages in an undercut recess of the hook element of the other panel.

This construction has proven to be particularly easy to handle because the holding profiles can be pressed and pressed lightly snap into each other with elastic deformation. In addition, the hook elements have good wear resistance, which favors multiple laying. The wear resistance is good because different locking functions are performed by different hook element areas and the stress on the hook element occurs in a distributed manner. The panels are locked, for example, by the locking element and the recess perpendicular to the installation level. The locking of the panels against pulling apart in the longitudinal direction, however, is accomplished by the holding surfaces of the hook projections.

A 8 The protruding locking element of the first panel is simply designed as a bead, which extends over the entire length of the narrow side, and the undercut recess of the second panel is designed as an elongated throat, which receives the bead in the assembled state. To join, the bulge and throat must be joined together under an elastic deformation of the hook elements.

If no gluing is carried out, this embodiment of the fastening system is particularly suitable for multiple laying because of its wear resistance. It is also inexpensive to manufacture.

On the underside of the panels, which is placed on a base, for example a screed, an air gap between the panels can be tolerated in the area of the joint.

A 9 Another improvement is seen in the fact that the areas provided with air when two panels are installed form glue pockets. In addition to using the proposed fastening system for glue-free laying of floor panels, it is particularly well suited for connection with glue.

For this purpose, those points of the holding profiles, which must be provided with glue, for example in an instruction manual or by markings on the holding profile itself. In this way, the user can apply glue very precisely where there are glue pockets when two panels are installed.

In the majority of applications of floor panels, glued installation is considered the most appropriate type of installation. This is because the durability of the panels is significantly improved. The gluing of the holding profiles has the effect that the penetration of dirt and moisture into the joints is almost prevented. This minimizes moisture absorption and swelling of the panels in the joining area of the holding profiles.

Of course, there may be applications for which a glue-free installation is preferred. For example, if a floor covering has to be taken up and relocated frequently, e.g. for floors in exhibition stand construction.

A 10 A construction has emerged as a simple and durable embodiment in which the holding profiles of the long narrow sides are designed as complementary form-fitting profiles, the form-fitting profile of a panel forming a common joint with the complementary form-fitting profile of a second panel in the installed state, and the joint by one rotating joining movement of the panels. Due to the flexibility between the long narrow sides, this connection point of the panels is protected from severe material damage and from breaking of the holding profiles.

The panels allow the panels to be bent up and down at the connection point. If, for example, a panel lies on a base with an elevation, so that a narrow side of the panel is pressed onto the base when the load is applied and the opposite narrow side bounces upwards, then a second panel attached to the upward bobbing narrow side is moved upwards. The thereby kending bending forces do not damage the narrow cross-sections of the form-fitting profiles. Instead, a joint movement takes place. The construction takes into account the principle of "adapted deformability". This principle is based on the knowledge that very stiff and therefore supposedly stable connection points cause high notch stresses and therefore easily fail. In order to avoid this, components should be designed in such a way that they have a resilience or "adapted deformability" that is matched to the intended use and in this way notch stresses are reduced.

A floor laid with the proposed fastening system has a flexibility which is adapted to irregular rough or corrugated surfaces. The measure therefore increases the durability of the panels. The fastening system is therefore particularly suitable for panels for renovating irregular floors in old buildings.

Even on a flat surface, panels can undergo an alternating deflection if a soft intermediate layer, for example an impact sound-absorbing film or the like, is laid on the surface. The intermediate layer is pressed in at a stressed point and the panels buckle at their connection points. The fastening system is also more suitable than the known fastening systems for this type of laying of panels.

A further advantage is seen in the fact that panels with the fastening system according to the invention are better suited for multiple laying than panels with the known fastening system, because the panels with the fastening system according to the invention have no pre-damage to the interlocking profiles even after long use on an irregular surface. The form-fitting profiles are dimensionally stable and durable. They can be used much longer and can be relocated more often during their life cycle.

A 11 Simply the joint is made of a recess in the Narrow side of the first panel and a matching projection of the complementary narrow side of the second panel is formed. The form-fitting profiles are preferably designed so that a load on the top of the floor panels in the installed state is transmitted from the top wall of the recess of a first panel into the projection of the second panel and from the projection of the second panel into the bottom wall of the first panel. The walls of the recess of the first panel are in contact with the top and bottom of the projection of the second panel when installed. However, the upper wall of the recess has only a short area at the free end of the upper wall of the recess in contact with the projection of the second panel. In this way, the construction permits a joint movement between the panel with the recess and the panel with the projection, with little elastic deformation of the walls of the recess. In this way, the rigidity of the connection is optimally adapted to an irregular base, which inevitably leads to a buckling movement between panels fastened to one another.

A 12 The joint is simply formed from a concave curvature in the inner wall of the recess facing the substrate and from a convex curvature on the underside of the projection facing the substrate. In addition, the upper side of the projection of a panel facing away from the substrate has an oblique material removal which extends to the free end of the projection. The thickness of the projection is increasingly reduced due to the removal of material towards the free end. The removal of material creates freedom of movement for the joint.

In order to resume installed panels, it is advisable to first lift a row of panels lying next to one another so that they rotate obliquely upwards in the joint. Then the projections are pulled out of the recesses in an oblique direction and the joint is taken apart. The panels are then only connected on the short narrow sides. It It is advisable to pull apart the hooked elements of the short narrow sides in their longitudinal extent, in order to prevent the hook elements from being deformed when they are disassembled.

A 13 Advantageously, the convex curvature of the projection and the concave curvature of the recess essentially each form a circular section, the circular center of the circular sections being arranged on the top of the projection or below the top of the projection in the installed state. In the latter case, the center of the circle lies within the cross section of the projection.

This simple construction results in a joint, the convex curvature of the projection of which is similar to an articulated ball and the concave curvature of the recess is similar to that of a socket, whereby, in contrast to a socket joint, of course no spherical but only a flat rotary movement is possible.

A 14 In a favorable further development, the most protruding point of the convex curvature of the projection of a panel is arranged in such a way that it is located approximately below the top edge of the panel. This results in a relatively large cross section for the projection in relation to the total thickness of the panel. In addition, the concave curvature of the recess offers a sufficiently large undercut for the convex curvature of the projection, so that these can hardly be moved apart by tensile forces acting in the laying plane.

A 15 The joint properties of two interconnected panels can be further improved if the wall of the recess of a panel facing the substrate has an inclined material removal on its inside that extends to the free end of the wall and the wall thickness of this wall becomes increasingly thinner towards the free end is. The removal of material when two panels are installed creates freedom of movement for the joint. With this improvement, the proportion of elastic deformation of the walls of the recess is further reduced during the deflection of the installed panels.

A 16 It is also useful if the recess of a panel for connection to the protrusion of another panel can be widened by a resilient deformation of its lower wall and that the resilient deformation of the lower wall that occurs during joining is removed again when two panels are fully connected is. The positive locking profiles are thus only elastically deformed for the joining process and during a joint movement and, if they are not loaded, are not subject to any elastic tension.

A 17 The positive-locking profiles are preferably formed in one piece on the narrow sides of the panels. The panels can be manufactured very easily and with little waste.

A 18 It has been shown that the strength of modern substrates, such as medium-density MDF fiberboard (Medium Density Fiberboard) or high-density HDF fiberboard (High Density Fiberboard), which are provided with an abrasion-resistant wear layer, are particularly suitable for use with proposed fastening system are suitable. These materials are easy to process and maintain sufficient surface quality, for example by machining. In addition, these materials have a high dimensional stability of the milled profiles. Even after repeated laying, the retaining profiles are still in good shape so that a secure connection is possible even on uneven surfaces.

A 19 There is a further benefit if the freedom of movement for the joint joints is provided with a soft-elastic hardening filler when the panels are installed. This filler preferably seals all joints and in particular the joint on the top in such a way that no moisture and no dirt can penetrate. When the panels connected to one another are articulated, the soft elastic filler is squeezed or stretched depending on the direction of rotation of the joint movement. It always adheres to the contact surfaces of the narrow sides of the panels and returns to its original shape when the joint movement decreases. The filler contributes to the restoration of the joint due to its elastic inner deformation.

The invention is shown by way of example in a drawing below and described in detail with reference to the figures. Show it:

1 is a schematic side view of a laid floor covering made of panels with the fastening system according to the invention with hook elements,

2 shows an embodiment of the fastening system with hook elements in a side view, in sections,

3 shows a further embodiment of the fastening system with hook elements in side view, in sections,

4 shows a schematic representation of a holding profile with a web on the underside and a representation of the cutting tools for producing the undercut,

5 shows an embodiment of the fastening system with hook elements which can be fixed via a locking element,

5.1 an embodiment of the fastening system with hook elements which can be fixed via two locking elements,

6 is a partial representation of a fastening system with complementary positive locking professionals len that form a joint when two panels are assembled,

7 shows the fastening system according to FIG. 6 in the assembled state,

8 shows a joining process with panels according to FIG. 6, in which the projection of a panel is inserted into the recess of the second panel in the direction of the arrow and the first panel is subsequently locked with a rotary movement,

9 shows a further joining process with panels according to FIG. 6, in which the projection of the first panel is pushed into the recess of the second panel parallel to the laying plane,

FIG. 10 shows the fastening system in the assembled state according to FIG. 7, the common joint being moved upwards from the laying plane and the two

Panels form a kink,

Fig. 11 shows the fastening system in the installed state

Fig. 7, wherein the joint is moved down from the installation level and the two panels one

Forming a kink,

Fig. 12 shows a fastening system with panels according to Fig. 6 in the installed state of two panels with a filler between the form-fitting profiles of the long narrow sides.

According to FIG. 1 of the drawing, a floor covering 1 with the proposed fastening system 2 is composed of several panels 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the same type. The first panel 4 has holding profiles 4a and 4b with complementary hook elements 4c and 4d on opposite narrow sides. In this way, a first stop Connect profile 4a to a second holding profile 5b of a second panel 5.

FIG. 2 shows an enlarged partial side view of an embodiment of the fastening system 2. A first holding profile 4a of a panel 4 with a hook element 4c can be seen, which is formed from a web 4e protruding approximately perpendicularly from the narrow side and arranged on the top side 6 of the panel. There is at the free end of the web 4e to the underside 7 of the panel

4 pointing hook projection 4f arranged. The hook projection 4f engages with a hook projection 5f of a second panel 5. The hook projection 5f of the second panel 5 forms the holding profile of the rear narrow side. It is also formed from a web 5e which projects from the narrow side of the second panel 5 and is arranged on the underside 8 of the second panel 5. The hook projection 5f is also arranged at the free end of the web 5e and faces the top side 9 of the panel 5. The hook projections 4f and 5f of the two panels 4 and 5 are hooked into one another.

The hook projection 5f of the second panel 5 with the web 5e on the underside lies in the assembled state of the first panel

5 on the top web 4e of the second panel 4. In the present embodiment, air L1 is provided between the hook projection 4f of the top web 4e of the first panel 4 and the bottom web 5e of the second panel 5 for the purpose of clear positioning.

According to FIG. 2, retaining surfaces 4g and 5g of the hook projections 4f and 5f engage behind one another in such a way that the hook projections 4f and 5f can only be hooked into one another by elastic deformation. An opening 11 is formed between the inner surface 10 of the hook profile of the second panel 5 and the opposite holding surface 4g of the hook projection 4f, which has the width a at its narrowest point. This is less than the width b of the hook projection 4f of the first panel 4 at its farthest point. This design and the elastic see deformation when joining the hook projections 4f and 5f, the complementary hook projections 4f and 5f snap into a defined end position. In the present embodiment, the holding surfaces 4g and 5g of the hook projections 4f and 5f are kept simple and are designed as inclined flat surfaces. These taper from the free ends of the hook projections 4f and 5f to the webs 4e and 5e. In the present exemplary embodiment, as can be seen in FIG. 2, the holding surface 4g of the hook projection of the first panel 4 is rounded off at the upper and the lower end. The same applies to the holding surface 5g of the hook projection 5f of the second panel 5. This supports the joining of the hook projections 4f and 5f by slowly and elastically expanding the holding profiles 4a and 5b during a joining movement running perpendicular to the laying plane. This simplifies the laying and protects the holding profiles 4a and 5b.

The adjoining holding surfaces 4g and 5g of the interacting panels 4 and 5 therefore nestle against one another in regions. The resulting gaps can advantageously serve as glue pockets 12.

Furthermore, air L2 is provided between the end face 5h of the hook protrusion 5f on the underside of the second panel 5 and the inner surface 13 of the first panel 4. This resulting space can also serve as a glue pocket 12. The same applies to the end face 14 of the hook projection 4f on the top side of the first panel 4, which in the assembled state bears against the second panel 5 at least in the area of the top side 6 and 9 of the panel. Below the top 6 and 9 of the panel towards the inside of the connection, in the present exemplary embodiment, an intermediate space widens, which is also designed as a glue pocket 12.

A second embodiment of a fastening system 2 is illustrated in FIG. 3. The same technical features are provided with the same reference numerals as in the FIG. 2. The embodiment according to FIG. 3 differs from the embodiment according to FIG. 2 in that that of the two pairings of web / hook projection which abuts one another and that which has an air gap have changed. The basic function of the fastening system 2 remains the same. This again results in a clear contact of the hook projections 4f and 5f and a gapless surface of the floor covering 1.

Finally, FIG. 4 shows a schematic representation of a panel 5 with a holding profile 5b according to the invention. It is shown schematically how the undercut contour of the holding projection 5f can be produced with the aid of two cutting tools W1 and W2, which rotate about the axes XI and X2. The tools W1 and W2 create a recess 15 in which a complementary hook projection of another panel (not shown) can be snapped into place.

FIG. 5 shows an alternative embodiment of a fastening system with special complementary holding profiles 20 and 21 on the short narrow sides of panels 22 and 23. Again, hook elements 24 and 25 are provided which, like the above embodiments, webs 26 and 27 and hook projections 28 and 29 have. The embodiment according to FIG. 5 is constructed in such a way that the end face 30 of the lower hook element of the second panel 23 has at its free end a protruding locking element 31 which engages in an undercut recess 32 of the upper hook element 24 of the first panel 22. The hook elements 24 and 25 can be locked into one another with slight pressure and with elastic deformation. The panels 22 and 23 are locked perpendicularly to the laying plane by the locking element 31 engaging in the recess 32. The panels 22 and 23 are locked against pulling apart in their longitudinal direction by holding surfaces 33 and 34 which are provided on the hook projections 28 and 29 of the hook elements 24 and 25. 5.1 shows a further embodiment, which is based on the embodiment according to FIG. 5. The same features of these two figures are provided with the same reference numerals. Compared to the embodiment of FIG. 5, the embodiment according to FIG. 5.1 is constructed in such a way that the end face 35 of the upper-side hook element 24 of the first panel 22 also has at its free end a protruding locking element 36, which engages in an undercut recess 37 of the underside hook element 25 of the second panel 23 engages. In order to lock the hook elements 24 and 25, a slightly greater pressure must be exerted than in the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 5. The panels 22 and 23 are engaged by the locking element 31 which engages in the recess 32 and the additional locking element 36 which engages in the recess 37 more firmly locked than in the embodiment according to FIG. 5. The protruding latching elements 31 and 36 of the panels 22 and 23 are designed as beads which extend over the entire length of a narrow side. Of course, instead of a bead on a hook projection, a protruding nose with a bevel can also be provided (not shown), the bevel of the nose being oriented so that the corresponding hook element is gently widened as the joining process progresses. The undercut recesses 32 and 37 of the panels 22 and 23 are designed as elongated grooves, which receive the beads in the assembled state. Bead and throat can be milled in a single pass by formatting. To join the panels 22 and 23, the bulge and throat must be inserted into each other with elastic deformation of the hook elements 24 and 25. In addition, the exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 5 and 5.1 differ in the interaction of the webs 26, 27 and hook projections 29, 28. According to FIG. 5, the web 26 bears against the hook projection 29 and air is provided between the hook projection 28 and the web 27 , 5.1 there is air between the web 26 and the hook projection 29 and the hook projection 28 bears against the web 27. 6, a fastening system for rectangular panels 40 and 41 is shown. The panels 40 and 41 have holding profiles on their long narrow sides, which are designed as form-fitting profiles 42 and 43. The opposing form-fitting profiles 42 and 43 of a panel 40 and 41 are complementary to one another. In this way, an additional panel can be attached to each panel that has already been installed.

The form-fitting profiles 42 and 43 according to FIG. 6 are based on the prior art of the German utility model G 79 28 703 Ul. In particular on the positive locking profiles of the exemplary embodiment which is disclosed in FIGS. 14, 15 and 16 and in the associated description part of G 79 28 703 Ul. The form-fitting profiles 42 and 43 of the present fastening system, on the other hand, are further developed in such a way that they enable an articulated and flexible connection of panels 40 and 41, which make the fastening system more durable and encourage frequent reuse.

One of the form-fitting profiles 42 is provided with a projection 44 projecting from the narrow side. The underside of the projection 44, which in the installed state faces the base, has a cross section with a convex curvature 45 for the purpose of the articulated connection. The convex curvature 45 is rotatably supported in the complementary form-fitting profile 43. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the convex curvature 45 is designed in the form of a circular section. The part 46 of the narrow side of the panel 42 which is arranged below the projection 44 and which faces the underlay in the installed state is further back from the free end of the projection 44 than the part 47 of the narrow side which is arranged above the projection 44. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the part 46 of the narrow side arranged below the projection 44 steps back approximately twice as far from the free end of the projection 44 as the part 47 of the narrow side arranged above the projection 44. The reason for this is that the circular section of the convex curvature 45 is relatively wide. is formed. As a result, the most protruding point of the convex curvature 45 of the projection 44 is arranged so that it is located approximately below the upper edge 48 of the panel 40.

The part 47 of the narrow side arranged above the projection 44 protrudes from the narrow side at the top of the panel 40 and forms a joint joint surface 49. Between this joint joint surface 49 and the projection 44 of the panel 40, part 47 of the narrow side is set back. This ensures that the joint joint surface 49 always forms a closed joint on the top side with the joint joint surface 39 of the complementary panel 41.

The upper side of the projection 44 opposite the convex curvature 45 of the projection 44 has a short, straight section 50, which is also arranged parallel to the underground U in the installed state. From this short section 50 towards the free end, the top of the projection 44 has an inclined material removal 51 which extends to the free end of the projection 44.

The form-fitting profile 43 which is complementary to the form-fitting profile 42 discussed is discussed below with the aid of the panel 41. The form-fitting profile 43 has a recess 52. This is essentially delimited by a lower wall 53 facing the subsurface U in the installed state and an upper wall 54. On the inside of the recess 52, the lower wall 53 is provided with a concave curvature 55. This has the function of a bearing shell. The concave curvature 55 is also designed in the form of a segment of a circle. So that the relatively wide concave curvature 55 finds space on the lower wall 53 of the recess 52, the lower wall 53 projects further from the narrow side of the panel 41 than the upper wall 54. The concave curvature 55 forms at the free end of the lower one Wall 53 an undercut. In the finished installed state of two panels 40 and 41, this undercut is undercut by the projection 44 of the associated form-fitting profile 42 of the adjacent panel 40. The degree of engagement, the difference between the thickest point of the free end of the lower wall 53 and the thickness of the lower wall 53 at the lowest point of the concave curvature 55 is so adjusted that a good compromise between an articulated compliance of two panels 40 and 41 and a good hold against pulling apart the form-fitting profiles 42 and 43 in the installation plane.

The fastening system of the prior art according to FIGS. 14, 15 and 16 of the utility model G 79 28 703 Ul, on the other hand, has a considerably larger degree of undercut. This results in extremely stiff joints, which cause high notch stresses due to the stress on an irregular surface.

According to the exemplary embodiment, the inside of the upper wall 54 of the recess 52 of the panel 41 is arranged parallel to the underground U in the installed state.

The lower wall 53 of the recess 52 of the panel 41 facing the underground U has an inclined material removal 56 on its inside, which extends to the free end of the lower wall 53. As a result, the wall thickness of this wall 53 becomes increasingly thinner towards the free end of the wall 53. According to the exemplary embodiment, the material removal 56 adjoins one end of the concave curvature 55.

The projection 44 of the panel 40 and the recess 52 of the panel 41 form, as shown in FIG. 7, a common joint G. The material removal 51 discussed in FIG. 6 on the top of the projection 44 of the panel 40 and the material removal 56 of the lower one When the panels 40 and 41 are in the installed state, the wall 53 of the cutout 52 in the panel 41 creates freedom of movement 57 and 58, respectively, which allow the joint G to rotate in a small angular range.

In the installed state, the short straight section 50 of the top of the projection 44 of the panel 40 stands with the inside the top wall 54 of the recess 52 of the panel 41 in contact. In addition, the convex curvature 45 of the projection 44 bears against the concave curvature 55 of the lower wall 53 of the recess 52 of the panel 41.

The side joint joint surfaces 49 and 39 of two connected panels 40 and 41 facing the upper side are always clearly in contact with one another. In practice, a simultaneous exact contact of the convex curvature 45 of the projection 44 of the panel 40 with the concave curvature 55 of the recess 52 of the panel 41 is not possible. Manufacturing tolerances would result in that either the joint faces 49 and 39 lie exactly against one another or the convex curvature 45 lies exactly against the concave curvature 55. In practice, the positive-locking profiles 42 and 43 are therefore designed such that the joint faces 49 and 39 always lie exactly against one another and the convex curvature 45 and the concave curvature 55 cannot be moved sufficiently far into one another for an exact contact. However, since the manufacturing tolerances are of the order of a hundredth of a millimeter, the convex curvature 45 and the concave curvature 55 also nestle against one another.

Panels 40 and 41 with the described complementary form-fitting profiles 42 and 43 can be attached to one another in various ways. 8, a panel 41 with a cutout 52 has already been installed, while a further panel 40 with a complementary projection 44 is inserted into the cutout 52 of the panel 41 at an angle in the direction of arrow P. Then the panel 40 is rotated about the common center of the circle K of the circular sections of the convex curvature 45 of the projection 44 and the concave curvature 55 of the recess 52 until the panel 40 rests on the substrate U.

A further type of joining of the panels 40 and 41 is shown in FIG. 9, according to which the panel 41 is laid with a recess 52 and a further panel 40 with a projection 44 in the laying plane and displaced perpendicular to the interlocking profiles 42 and 43 in the direction of the arrow P. until the walls 53 and 54 of the recess 52 of the panel 41 expand a little elastically and the convex curvature 45 of the projection 44 has overcome the undercut at the front end of the concave curvature 55 of the lower wall 53 and the final laying position has been reached.

The latter type of joining is preferably used for the short narrow sides of the panels 40 and 41 if they are provided with the same complementary form-fitting profiles 42 and 43 as the long narrow sides of the panels 40 and 41.

In Fig. 10 the fastening system is shown in use. The panels 40 and 41 lie on an irregular surface U. The panel 40 with the form-fitting profile 42 is loaded with a force F on its upper side. As a result, the narrow side of the panel 40 has been raised with the form-fitting profile 42. The form-fitting profile 43 of the panel 41 connected to the form-fitting profile 42 has also been raised. The joint G results in a kink between the two panels 40 and 41. The free movement spaces 57 and 58 create space for the rotary movement of the joint G. The joint G formed from the two panels 40 and 41 is moved upward a little way from the laying plane Service. The freedom of movement 57 has been fully utilized for the rotation, so that the top of the projection 44 of the panel 40 bears against the inside of the wall 54 of the panel 41 in the area of material removal 51. The connection point is inherently flexible and does not force the positive-locking profiles 42 and 43 involved into unnecessary and material-stressing bending loads.

The damage that occurs early in form-fitting profiles according to the prior art due to breakage of the projection or the walls of the form-fitting profiles is thus avoided.

A further advantage results from an articulated movement according to FIG. 10. This can be seen in the fact that the two panels 40 after 41 fall back into their laying plane after being relieved by their own weight. A minor one elastic deformation of the walls 53 and 54 of the recess 52 is also present in this case. This elastic deformation supports the panels 40 and 41 falling back into the laying plane. Only a very slight elastic deformation occurs because the pivot point of the joint G, which is defined by the curved sections 45 and 55, is located within the cross section of the projection 44 of the panel 40.

11 shows an articulated movement of two installed panels 40 and 41 in the opposite direction of rotation. The panels 40 and 41 laid on an irregular underground U are bent downwards. The construction is designed in such a way that when the connection point bends out of the laying plane towards the subsurface U, there is a significantly greater elastic deformation of the lower wall 53 of the recess 52 than when it bends upward from the laying plane. The purpose of this measure is to be seen in the fact that the panels 40 and 41, which have been bent downwards, cannot return to the laying level due to their own weight after being relieved. The greater elastic deformation of the lower wall 53 of the recess 52, however, produces a tension force which moves the panels 40 and 41 back into the installation plane resiliently after relief.

The form-fitting profiles 42 and 43 described are integrally formed on the narrow sides of the panels 40 and 41 in the present case. This is preferably done by a so-called formatting process, in which the form-fitting profiles are milled in one pass with several milling tools connected in series. The panels 40 and 41 of the described embodiment essentially consist of an MDF board with a thickness of 8 mm. The top of the MDF board is wear-resistant and has a decorative coating. A so-called counter-tension layer is attached to your underside, which compensates for the residual stresses caused by the top coating. Finally, FIG. 12 shows two panels 40 and 4lim installed state, a fastening system with a soft-elastic hardening filler 60 being used. The freedom of movement 57 and 58 of the joint G also serve as a kind of glue pockets into which a flexible filler 60 is filled. In addition, the top joint 61 is closed with the filler 60, so that no moisture and no dirt can penetrate. In addition, the base 62 of the recess 52 is provided with the filler 60.

The filler 60 also has the effect that, in the bent state of two panels 40 and 41, the deformed filler 60 resets the panels 40 and 41 into the laying plane due to its internal spring action.

Panel and fastening system for panels

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

flooring

fastening system

paneling

Panel a holding profile b holding profile c hook element d hook element e web f hook projection

Panel b retaining profile e web f hook projection g retaining surface h front side

paneling

bottom

top

Top side 0 inner surface 1 opening 2 glue pocket 3 inner surface 4 end face 0 holding profile 1 holding profile 2 panel 3 panel 4 hook element 5 hook element 6 web 7 web 8 hook projection 9 hook projection 0 end face 1 locking element 2 recess 3 holding surface 4 retaining surface 5 end face 6 locking element 7 recess 9 joint joint surface 0 panel 1 panel 2 form-fitting profile 3 form-fitting profile

44 head start

45 convex curvature

46 part of the narrow side

47 part of the narrow side 48 upper edge

49 joint joint surface

50 section of 44

51 Material removal

52 recess 53 lower wall

54 top wall

55 concave curvature

56 Material removal

57 Freedom of movement 58 Freedom of movement

60 filler

G joint

Ll air

L2 air P arrow direction

U underground

Claims

Panel and fastening system for panels

1. Fastening system for panels (3, 4, 5, 6, 22, 23, 40, 41), in particular for floor panels, the narrow sides of which are provided with retaining profiles (4a, 4b, 5b, 20, 21), with opposing retaining profiles ( 4a, 4b, 5b, 20, 21) of a panel (3, 4, 5, 6, 22, 23, 40, 41) fit together in such a way that similar panels (3, 4, 5, 6, 22, 23, 40, 41) can be fastened to one another, characterized in that at least a pair of opposing holding profiles (4a, 4b, 5b, 20, 21) have complementary hook elements (4c, 4d, 24, 25) which can be hooked into one another and that the hook elements (4c, 4d, 24, 25) have holding surfaces (4g, 5g, 33, 34), by means of which the panels (3, 4, 5, 6, 22, 23, 40, 41) are held against one another in the assembled state in such a way that one gap-free floor surface results.

2. Fastening system according to claim 1, characterized in that a first holding profile (4a, 4b, 5b, 20, 21) of a panel (3, 4, 5, 6, 22, 23, 40, 41) with a hook element (4c, 4d , 24, 25) is provided, which is formed from a web (4e, 5e, 26, 27) projecting approximately vertically from the narrow side and arranged on the upper side of the panel, with at the free end of the web (4e, 5e, 26, 27 ) a hook projection (4f, 5f, 28, 29) facing the underside of the panel (3, 4, 5, 6, 22, 23, 40, 41) is arranged and that the second holding profile (4a, 4b, 5b, 20, 21) of the panel (3, 4, 5, 6, 22, 23, 40, 41) is provided with a hook element (4c, 4d, 24, 25) which consists of a protruding from the narrow side and on the Underside of the panel (3, 4, 5, 6, 22, 23, 40, 41) arranged web (4e, 5e, 26, 27) is formed, with at the free end of this web (4e, 5e, 26, 27) one to the top of the panel pointing hook projection (4f, 5f, 28, 29) is arranged.

3. Fastening system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the hook projection (4f, 5f, 28, 29) of the underside web (4e, 5e, 26, 27) in the assembled state of a panel (3, 4, 5, 6, 22nd , 23, 40, 41) on the upper web (4e, 5e, 26, 27) of a second panel (3, 4, 5, 6, 22, 23, 40, 41) and that between the hook projection (4f, 5f, 28, 29) of the top web (4e, 5e, 26, 27) of the first panel (3, 4, 5, 6, 22, 23, 40, 41) and the bottom web (4e, 5e, 26 , 27) of the second panel (3, 4, 5, 6, 22, 23, 40, 41) air (Ll) is provided or vice versa.

4. Fastening system according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the holding surfaces (4g, 5g, 33, 34) of the hook projections (4f, 5f, 28, 29) engage behind in such a way that complementary hook projections (4f, 5f, 28, 29) can only be hooked into one another by elastic deformation.

5. Fastening system according to claim 4, characterized in that the holding surfaces (4g, 5g, 33, 34) of the hook projections (4f, 5f, 28, 29) are inclined, that the hook projections (4f, 5f, 28, 29 ) taper from their free ends to the webs (4e, 5e, 26, 27) and that the holding surfaces (4g, 5g, 33, 34) of the complementary hook projections (4f, 5f, 28, 29) bear against one another at least in regions.

6. Fastening system according to claim 4, characterized in that between the end face (5h) of the underside hook projection (5f) of the second panel (5) and the narrow side of the first panel (4) air ( ^L 2) is provided and that the end face ( 14) of the hook protrusion (4f) on the top side of the first panel (4) in the assembled state is in contact with the second panel (5) at least in the area of the upper side of the panel.

, Fastening system according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that at least one of the end faces (30, 35) of a hook element (24, 25) of a panel (22, 23) has at its free end a projecting locking element (31, 36) which in the assembled state engages in an undercut recess (32, 37) of the hook element (24, 25) of the other panel (22, 23).

8. Fastening system according to claim 7, characterized in that the protruding locking element (31) of the second panel (23) is designed as a bead which extends over the entire length of the narrow side and that the undercut recess (32) of the first panel (22nd ) is designed as an elongated throat, which receives the bead in the assembled state.

9. Fastening system according to one of claims 3 to 6, so that the two spaces (3, 4, 5, 6, 22, 23, 40, 41) with air in the assembled state form glue pockets (12) in the assembled state of two panels.

10. Fastening system according to one of claims 1 to 10, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t that the

Holding profiles (4a, 4b, 5b, 20, 21) of the long narrow sides are designed as complementary form-fit profiles (42, 43), the form-fit profile (42) of a panel (40) with the complementary form-fit profile (43) of a second panel ( 41) forms a common joint (G) in the installed state and the joint (G) is to be joined together by a rotating joining movement of the panels (40, 41).

11. Fastening system according to claim 11, d a d u r c h g e - k e n n z e i c h n e t that the joint (G) from a

Cutout (52) is formed in the narrow side of the second panel (41) and a matching projection (44) on the complementary narrow side of the first panel (40) is.

12. Fastening system according to claim 12, characterized in that the joint (G) from a concave curvature (55) in the underground (U) facing inner wall (53) of the recess (52) and from a convex curvature (45) on the the underside of the projection (44) facing the base (U) is formed such that the top side of the projection (44) of a panel (40) facing away from the base (U) has an oblique material removal (51) which extends to the free end of the projection (44) extends that the thickness of the projection (44) is increasingly reduced towards the free end by the material removal (51) and that the material removal (51) creates freedom of movement for the common joint (G) ,

13. Fastening system according to claim 13, characterized in that the convex curvature (45) of the projection (44) and the concave curvature (55) of the recess (52) essentially form a circular section, the center of the circle (K) of the circular section on or below the top of the projection (44) is arranged.

14. Fastening system according to claim 13 or 14, so that the farthest projecting point of the convex curvature (45) of the projection (44) is arranged such that it is located approximately below the upper edge (48) of the panel (40).

15. Fastening system according to one of claims 13 to 15, characterized in that the bottom (U) facing the lower wall (53) of the recess (52) of a panel (41) on its inside has an oblique material removal (56) which extends up to extends to the free end of the lower wall (53) and that the wall thickness of this wall (53) towards the free end is increasingly thinner is, wherein the material removal (56) in the installed state of two panels (40, 41) creates freedom of movement (57) for the common joint (G).

16. Fastening system according to one of claims 13 to 15, characterized in that the recess (52) of a panel (41) for connection to the projection (44) of a further panel (40) by a resilient deformation of the lower wall (53) expands- bar and that the spring-elastic deformation of the lower wall (53) which occurs during the joining is withdrawn again in the fully connected state of two panels (40, 41).

17. Fastening system according to one of claims 1 to 8, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t that the positive-locking profiles (42, 43) are integrally formed on the narrow sides of the panels (40, 41).

18. Fastening system according to one of claims 1 to 9, so that the panels (3, 4, 5, 6, 22, 23, 40, 41) consist essentially of an MDF, HDF, or chipboard material.

19. Fastening system according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that in the installed state of the panels (3, 4, 5, 6, 22, 23, 40, 41) the freedom of movement (57, 58) for the common joints (G) are provided with a soft-elastic curing filler (60).

20. Panel with a fastening system according to one of claims 1 to 19.