EP1242701A1

EP1242701A1 - Joint

Info

Publication number: EP1242701A1
Application number: EP00929310A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Peter Hamberger; August Hipper
Original assignee: Hamberger Industriewerke GmbH
Current assignee: Hamberger Industriewerke GmbH
Priority date: 1999-12-23
Filing date: 2000-04-25
Publication date: 2002-09-25
Anticipated expiration: 2020-04-25
Also published as: CN1310777A; NO317622B1; CZ20022232A3; HU223826B1; JP2003524716A; CA2338367A1; PL354952A1; AU4743800A; RU2249661C2; WO2001048331A1; EP1242701B1; HUP0204044A2; NO20022957D0; RU2002120452A; DK1242701T3; PT1242701E; NO20022957L; DE10084163D2; CA2338367C; ES2202125T3

Abstract

The invention relates to a joint for two flat construction elements, especially floor panels. According to the invention, a feather and groove joint is configured functionally separately from a locking part. Said locking part is in the form of a lock pin of a construction element, said lock pin (30) being located at a distance from the feather and groove joint (16, 28) and engaging in a corresponding engaging element (24) of the other construction element. The inventive joint is preferably configured on both the longitudinal edges and the front edges of a rectangular construction element, for example a floor panel. The locking part enables the floor panels to be joined in a flat position, i.e. without tilting.

Description

description

connection

The invention relates to a connection for components, in particular for floor panels, according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such a connection for floor panels is disclosed, for example, in EP 0 098 162 B1. In the known, so-called "glue-free" connection, the abutting peripheral edges of the panels are made with a tongue and groove connection. The lower groove cheek of the one panel facing the support surface is extended beyond the vertical parting plane and has at its end section a locking projection which plunges into a corresponding recess in the tongue of the other floor panel. In order to facilitate the laying of the panels, the connection in the area of engagement of the elongated groove cheek with the tongue is carried out with play, so that the panels can be moved along the longitudinal edges.

In W097 / 47834 AI a generic connection is shown, in which, similarly to the solution described above, the lower groove cheek of a floor panel is extended beyond the vertical parting plane and is provided with a projection which engages in an associated clamping recess of the spring. In contrast to the solution described in the introduction, the engagement between the elongated groove cheek and the associated recess of the tongue is carried out in such a way that a force is applied by this locking which presses the two floor panels against one another perpendicular to the vertical plane. In both of the above-described solutions, the tongue and groove connection takes on a double function. On the one hand, the tongue and groove connection ensures that the two floor panels are positioned exactly in relation to one another, so that there are no gaps and protrusions and the required laying quality is guaranteed. The second function is to ensure this predetermined relative position by means of the non-positive or positive locking between the elongated groove cheek and tongue, even when the floor is subjected to stress or fluctuations in temperature and humidity.

The problem with the known solutions is that the elongated groove cheek must be elastically deformed in order to bring about the engagement between the locking elements. Under unfavorable conditions, for example when the elastic lower groove cheek is subjected to excessive loads or when swelling due to moisture and temperature influences, cracks may occur in the area of the lower groove cheek connected to the associated floor panel, so that the groove cheek can no longer fulfill the locking function described above. In addition, in the case of such cracks in the connection area of the groove cheek, the fit of the tongue and groove connection also deteriorates in quality, so that the accuracy required for proper floor laying is no longer guaranteed.

In contrast, the invention is based on the object of creating a connection for components, in particular floor panels, in which a precise relative position is ensured with minimal expenditure on device technology.

This object is achieved by a connection with the features of claim 1. According to the invention, the fit and the locking are taken over by two separate components. The fit takes place in a conventional manner via a tongue and groove connection, while locking takes place via a locking pin which is formed at a distance from the tongue and groove connection and is therefore functionally independent of the latter. The locking pin can be formed on the spring-side end face or on the nut-side end face of a floor panel.

In a preferred exemplary embodiment, the locking pin is at a distance from the tongue and is immersed in a recess on the lower, side-side groove cheek, which, in contrast to the prior art, is not elastic. In a preferred variant, this means that both the spring and the locking pin penetrate the vertical parting plane between the components in the horizontal direction and each dip into corresponding recesses in the opposite component. It is particularly advantageous in this variant that the material removal is considerably less than the solutions described at the outset, so that the milling process for machining the end faces is simplified.

A particularly reliable locking with simple manufacturability is obtained if the locking pin is designed with a recess into which a projection engages on the underside of the lower groove cheek. The contact area between the groove cheek and the locking pin is preferably designed as an inclined surface, so that even with relatively large tolerances, the application of a predetermined pretensioning force to be applied to one another is ensured. When the components are placed flat against one another, both the longitudinal edges and the side edges of the components are preferably designed with the connection according to the invention.

In addition to the locking described above, the components can also be glued.

Other advantageous developments of the invention are the subject of the further subclaims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail below with the aid of schematic drawings. Show it:

1 shows the connection area of two floor panels;

FIG. 2 shows the floor panels from FIG. 1 in the connected state and FIG. 3 shows an illustration to explain the laying process.

The invention is explained below with reference to a laminate floor.

Such a laminate floor is made from a plurality of floor elements, of which only the connection area of two adjacent floor panels 2, 4 is shown in FIG. 1. Each floor panel 2, 4 of a laminate floor has a carrier plate 6 - also called a core - which consists of high-density wood fibers (HDF, MDF). Such a support plate 6 ensures good dimensional stability and high compressive strength.

The contact surface of each floor panel 2, 4 is formed by a counter-tension laminate 8, which extends to the lower large surface of each floor panel is applied. For special applications, a moisture insulation film (not shown) can also be installed. This counteracting laminate 8 further increases the dimensional stability of the floor covering. As indicated by dash-dotted lines in FIG. 1, an insulation layer 11 for structure-borne noise insulation can be attached to the underside of each floor panel 2, 4. The insulation layer can be formed from conventional insulation materials such as PU foam etc.

The visible surface of the floor panels 2, 4 is formed by a decorative laminate 10 and a cover layer 12 applied thereon. The decorative laminate 10 is produced by printing and gives the floor an appearance that comes very close to the structure of natural wooden floors. The cover layer 12 ensures the required robustness and durability of the floor covering.

An end face 14 of the floor panel 4 shown in FIG. 1 has a rectangular groove 16 which is delimited by an upper groove cheek 18 and a lower groove cheek 20.

The lower region of the groove cheek 20, which is remote from the groove 16, is provided with a recess 22, the depth T of which is greater than the depth t of the groove 16. The remaining wall thickness of the groove cheek 20 is so great that its elastic deformation during the assembly of the Panels is practically negligible. A projection 24 is formed on the underside of the groove cheek 20 and extends in the direction of the bearing surface of the floor panel 4. The side surfaces (perpendicular to the plane of the drawing) of the projection 24 are formed by inclined surfaces. The end face 26 of the adjacent floor panel 2 has a corresponding structure. Accordingly, a tongue 28 corresponding to the groove 16 protrudes from the end face 26. The tongue and groove connection formed by the groove 16 and the tongue 28 corresponds to the connection of conventional laminate floors, which are connected to one another, for example, only by gluing. In the area of the support surface of the floor panel 2, a locking pin 30 is formed, which is separated from the spring 28 via a sirnauscket 32. This means that the side walls of the front recess 32 are delimited on the one hand by the locking pin 30 and on the other hand by the spring 28. The depth S of the end recess 32 is greater than the length s of the pin - that is, the bottom of the groove is offset inwards relative to the end face 26. The elasticity of the locking pin 30 can be adjusted by varying the depth S, so that the pull-out forces can be adjusted for dismantling the base.

The large surface of the locking pin 30, which is distant from the front recess 32, extends in the extension of the support surface of the floor panel 2. A notch 34 is formed on the surface of the locking pin 30 facing the front recess 32, which - as will be described in more detail below - engages with the Projection 24 of the recess 22 can be brought and is formed approximately below the end face of the spring 28.

The end face of the locking pin 30 is provided with a run-on bevel 36, which facilitates the joining of the floor panels 2, 4 in cooperation with the adjacent bevel surface of the projection 24.

To join the floor panels 2, 4 runs

Projection 24 on the ramp surface 36 and the spring 28 dips into the groove 16. In this relative position the lower groove cheek 20 in turn dips into the end recess 32.

When the floor panel 4 is moved further with respect to the floor panel 2, the locking pin 30 is deflected elastically downward due to the transverse force introduced via the oblique ramp surface 36 (see dash-dotted representation in FIG. 2). The run-up surface 36 slides along the projection 24 until the latter snaps into the notch 32. In this state, the locking pin 30 engages behind the projection 24, the contact between these two components only taking place along the inclined surfaces formed on the right in FIG. 2, while the inclined surfaces arranged on the left are spaced apart from one another.

The position of the projection 24 and the notch 32 is selected such that in the locked state the two end faces 14, 26 are pressed flat against one another, so that the gap in the end face region between the two floor panels 2, 4 is minimal. The end face of the locking pin 30 is at a distance from the adjacent end face of the recess 22. Since the depth S of the end recess 32 is greater than the length s of the spring 28, the bottom of the end recess 32 is also at a distance from the separating plane 38 (dash-dotted lines in FIG 2) defining end face 14 of the floor panel 4.

The floor panels 2, 4 are aligned in the vertical direction solely by means of the tongue and groove connection 28, 16, while the locking and pressing of the floor panels 2, 4 takes place solely by the locking pin 30 in cooperation with the projection 24 and thus by the elasticity of the locking pin 30 depends. This can be changed by varying the depth S of the front recess 32 (indicated by dashed lines in FIG. 1), so that the elastic deflection of the locking pin 30 and the locking force depending on the choice of material and the conditions of use of the floor are easily adjustable.

Even if there is a crack in the area indicated by reference numeral 40 under unfavorable conditions, for example when the locking pin 30 is overloaded, there is no fear of a height offset, since the fit between the groove 16 and the tongue 28 is unaffected, while at most the locking forces are reduced ,

In the conventional solutions, due to the double function of the tongue and groove connection, both the locking and the fit between the floor panels is canceled when the lower groove cheek is broken off. The invention thus represents a considerable improvement of conventional glue-free connections, so that a precisely fitting installation of the floor is ensured even under the highest loads and also with installation errors.

The method for laying the floor panels 2, 4 constructed according to the invention is explained below with reference to FIG. 3. It is assumed that one or more floor panels 2 (4) have already been laid on a floor 42 indicated by dash-dotted lines, only the longitudinal side of the panels carrying the spring 48 and the locking pin 30 being shown in FIG. The newly added floor panel 4 is also placed flat on the floor 42 and then moved in the X direction (arrow in FIG. 3) until the inclined surface 36 runs onto the projection 24. Subsequently, a tapping block 44 is placed, which has an approximately L-shaped cross section and which rests with its longer leg on the top of the floor panel 4 while it is short Leg at least partially encompasses the right-hand end face of the floor panel in FIG. 3, so that this short leg rests on the spring 28.

The locking elements are brought into engagement as shown in FIG. 2 by light blows with a hammer 46 on the tapping block 44 in the direction of the already installed floor panel 2.

The alignment in the longitudinal direction of the panels is then carried out by placing the tapping block 44 on the narrow side. The floor element 4 can be moved along the long side of the already laid panels by knocks until the narrow sides are locked together.

It is essential that the concept according to the invention allows the floor panels 2, 4 to lie flat, i.e. can be connected without screwing in. Such screwing was necessary in the prior art described at the beginning. The measures according to the invention can thus considerably simplify the laying, so that the laying work can also be carried out by a layperson.

In order to enable a particularly reliable connection of the floor panels 2, 4, a connection can also be made by gluing in addition to the locking mechanism shown. This sizing is preferably carried out in the tongue and groove area.

Another particular advantage of the construction according to the invention is that the locking pin 30 is flush with the underside of the floor panels 2, 4, so that a flat support is ensured. Since the tongue and groove connection and the lock are designed independently of each other, the two floor panels 2, 4 already guided exactly through the tongue and groove connection during the locking process. In the prior art mentioned at the outset, the lower groove cheek, which at the same time forms the locking element, is deflected elastically during the locking process, so that precise, inventive guidance of the locking process is not possible.

Since no pivoting is required in the locking according to the invention, it is up to the installer whether he first connects the long sides or the narrow sides of the floor panel. In the case of locks that require swiveling in, the adjacent floor panels first had to be connected to one another along the narrow sides and then this long plank consisting of several individual floor panels had to be swung into the already installed floor panels. This is much more cumbersome, since aligning such long planks is much more difficult than laying successively short floor panels.

In the exemplary embodiment described above, the locking pin 30 is formed on the same floor panel 2 as the spring 28. In a kinematic reversal, the locking pin 30 could also be formed on the bottom panel 4 provided with the groove 16, although somewhat more material removal is required in order to cut the end face free.

Instead of locking via inclined surfaces, other geometries, for example rounded surfaces, vertical surfaces, etc., could also be used. In principle, it is also conceivable to produce the locking pin 30 from a different material and to fasten it to the panel. What is disclosed is a connection for two flat components, in particular floor panels, in which a tongue and groove connection is designed to be functionally separate from a locking device. This locking takes place by means of a locking pin of a component which is spaced apart from the tongue and groove connection and which engages in a correspondingly designed engagement element of the other component. The connection is preferably formed both on the longitudinal edges and on the end edges of a rectangular component, for example a floor panel. The locking allows the floor panels to be assembled in a flat position, ie without swiveling in.

Claims

12Ansprüche

1. Connection for plate-shaped building elements, for example floor panels with a tongue and groove connection (16, 28) passing through a parting plane (38) between two adjacent building elements (2, 4), which has a locking mechanism for fixing the tongue and groove connection is assigned to a specific relative position, characterized in that the lock has a locking pin (30) which is formed on a component (2, 4) and is functionally separate from the tongue and groove connection (16, 28) and which engages in a non-positive or positive manner with a Engagement element (24) on the other component (2, 4) can be brought.

2. Connection according to claim 1, wherein the locking pin (30) is formed at a distance from the spring (28) on one component (2) and the engagement element (24) at a distance from the groove (16) on the other component (4).

3. Connection according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the locking pin (30) is formed on the support side.

4. Connection according to claim 2 or 3, wherein between the spring (28) and locking pin (30) an end recess (32) is formed, the groove bottom of which is set back relative to the parting plane (38).

5. Connection according to one of the preceding claims, wherein on the spring (28) facing surface of the locking pin (30) a notch (34) is formed, which is assigned a correspondingly formed projection (24) of the engaging element.

6. Connection according to claim 5, wherein the notch (34) and the projection (24) are each delimited by inclined surfaces.

7. Connection according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the engagement between the locking pin (30) and the engagement element (24) is selected such that a clamping force acts on the base elements (2, 4).

8. Connection according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the connection is formed on the longitudinal and end faces of a floor panel (2, 4).

9. Connection according to one of claims 4 to 8, wherein the depth (S) of the end recess (32) is selected as a function of the desired pull-out force for separating the components (2, 4).

10. Connection according to one of the preceding claims, wherein in addition to the non-positive or positive engagement, a glue connection of the components (2, 4).

11. Connection according to one of the preceding claims, wherein an insulating layer is formed on the bearing surface.