EP1885970B2 - Method for placing and mechanically connecting panels - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for laying and mechanically connecting panels in rows parallel to one another. The method includes forming a super panel comprising a first plurality of panels in a first panel row, to be newly laid, the super panel being formed by connecting together second pairs of locking elements in adjacent panels of the first panel row. The method also includes connecting the super panel to a second plurality of panels in an already laid second panel row by working in sections, beginning at an end of the super panel, by utilizing a torsional flexibility of the super panel to engage the first pair of locking elements. During the connecting, the first plurality of panels do not move relative to each other along the second pair of edges.

Description

The invention relates to a method of laying and mechanically connecting panels in parallel rows, the panels each having a first pair of opposing side edges and a second pair of opposing side edges, wherein both the first pair of side edges comprise a first pair of locking means is associated with, as well as the second pair of side edges, a second pair of locking means is assigned, wherein the pairs of locking means are formed substantially in the form of a groove and a spring, wherein two adjacent panels by means of the locking means extending both in an orthogonal to the panel plane Direction as well as in a direction parallel to the panel plane and the respective side edge orthogonal direction can be locked together and wherein the groove and the spring of the first pair of locking means connected by pivoting together s ind.

Such a method for laying and mechanically connecting such panels is for example from EP-B-0 969 164 or from the WO 01/02671 A known. Further, to the publications EP-A-1 223 264 and EP-A-1 251 219 refer to the relevant prior art to the present invention. In the method according to the EP-B-0 969 164 For example, a panel to be added to a row of panels to be newly laid is approximated to an already laid panel of the row of panels to be newly laid. Then the already laid panel of the newly laid panel row is pivoted relative to the already laid panel rows, but without releasing the engagement with the already laid panels. Finally, the new panel to be laid is approximated with one of its short sides to the free short side of the already laid panel of the newly laid panel row, the panel levels of these two panels together form an angle. After engagement of the engagement elements of the new panel to be laid with the already laid panel of new panel row to be laid, the panel levels of the newly laid panel, the already laid panel of the newly laid row of panels and the panels of the already laid panel rows each in pairs at an angle , In a next step, at the same time, the new panel to be laid and the already laid panel of the panel row to be laid are then pivoted towards the floor area on which the rows of panels already laid rest, in order, on the one hand, to engage the engagement elements on the longitudinal side of the new panel to be laid bring the engagement elements of the last laid row of panels in engagement and on the other to bring the panel levels of the newly laid panel and the already laid panel of the newly laid panel row in alignment with the panel level of the already laid panel rows.

This known method has the disadvantage of being very cumbersome and difficult to perform. Either you need two people laying, one of which manipulates the newly laid panel and the other the already laid panel of the newly laid panel row or you have with one hand the new panel to be laid and with the other hand the already laid panel the new Manipulate the panel row to be laid. The former case is cumbersome, because you can not lay the panels alone. In the second-mentioned case, however, as a laying person faces the problem that especially the manipulation of the new panel to be laid is extremely complicated and power consuming, since it is in a very specific spatial orientation in a very specific relative position to the already laid panel of the newly laid panel row and taking into account the leverage that emanates from the usually about 1.2 m long, 0.2 m wide and about 0.4 kg heavy panel.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a method for laying and mechanical connection of panels of the type mentioned, which is easier and more feasible in particular by a laying person.

This object is achieved by a method according to claim 1. According to one embodiment, it is further provided, first in a first step, to connect a plurality of panels of a panel row to be newly laid, preferably all panels of the row of panels to be newly laid, in pairs by means of locking means of their respective second pairs of locking means, and later in a second step connect the interconnected panels of the panel row to be newly laid to the panels of the already laid panel row by interlocking locking means of their respective first pairs of locking means, starting from one or more substeps at one of the ends of the row of panels to be relocated, taking advantage of Tordierbarkeit the panels by a to the first pair of side edges parallel axis prepares in sections to the other of their ends. In this method, one makes use of two properties of the panels, the use of which in the course of laying the panels had not previously been thought, namely on the one hand, the strength of the engagement of the locking means and on the other hand, the Tordierbarkeit the panels to one to their first pair from side edges parallel axis.

The strength of the engagement of the locking means of two interconnected panels is used to form in the first step from a plurality of panels of a newly laid row of panels a kind of "super-panel" whose width is equal to the dimension of the panels along the second pair of side edges and whose length is one of the plurality of panels corresponding to a multiple of the dimension of the panels along their first pair of side edges. In the further manipulation of this super-panel in the second step of the laying method according to the invention, the individual panels of this super-panel do not move relative to each other due to the strength of the engagement of the locking means. Although this is not necessary, it is advisable to assemble the Super Panel in the immediate vicinity of the last row of panels laid.

The driveability of the panels and thus also of the super panel is utilized in the second step of the laying method according to the invention to bring the locking means of the super-panel with the corresponding locking means of the last laid row of panels in engagement. In principle, the entire super panel could be angled relative to the already laid row of panels, in order to be able to pivot the engagement elements into one another. For this purpose, however, a plurality of relocation persons would be required again. Therefore, according to the invention, a section adjacent to a longitudinal end of the superpanel is started and the locking means of this section engage the locking means of the corresponding section of the already laid row of panels. However, this does not mean that at the end of this engagement, the panel level in the area of this section is already aligned with the panel level of the already laid panel rows. Rather, the mere engagement of the locking means is sufficient. In this way, one works in sections to the other longitudinal end of the super-panel, the panels or the super-panel due to their ability to twist around an axis parallel to the first pair of side edges axis a gentle "wave motion" of the one longitudinal end of the super Panel to the other longitudinal end of the super panel. If the super-panel at the end of the engagement of the locking means have not been pivoted to the bottom surface due to its own weight and thus the locking means for connecting the super-panel with the already laid panel row have completely pivoted into each other, so the laying person this now accomplish it, wherein it prepares preferably again from one longitudinal end of the super-panel to the other longitudinal end. In summary, it could be said that according to the laying method according to the invention, the super panel and the last laid panel row "zipper-like" are joined together.

In the manner described above, the panels can also be easily laid by a single operator without complicated handles to be performed.

In the manufacture of the super panel, the panels of the new panel row to be laid are aligned with each other in preparation for the first step or during the execution of the first step. To facilitate the interlocking of the locking means is provided that one moves the panels in such an orientation that the panels of the already laid row of panels present the panels of the new row of panels to be laid in each case their groove. Further, the alignment of the panels of the newly laid row of panels is made by using the visible surface of the panels of the already laid row of panels near the lip as a stop for the spring of the panels to be relocated panel row.

In a particularly simple manner, the method according to the invention can be carried out if the panelability of the panels about an axis substantially parallel to their first pair of side edges is at least 2 °, preferably at least 4 °, more preferably at least 6 °, per linear meter of the panel. This portability of a panel can be determined in a measurement independent of the installation, for example, by clamping a panel of a predetermined length at its two short side edges and then pivoting these two short side edges in opposite directions of rotation, but without the panel, in particular its visible surface , to destroy. The value of the angle determined in this way, which the two short lateral edges of the panel enclose with each other, then needs to be divided only by the value of the length of the panel measured in meters.

For example, as previously indicated, the panels are rectangular panels, with the first pair of side edges being associated with the long rectangle side and the second pair of side edges being associated with the short rectangle side. In principle, however, it is also conceivable to carry out the laying method according to the invention with square panels.

For the strength of the locking of two adjacent panels by the locking means used in the laying method according to the invention, it is advantageous if the first pair of locking means or / and the second pair of locking means is integrally formed with a core of the panel.

Although the laying method according to the invention can also be used in principle in panels whose lips bounding the groove are the same length, it is proposed in a further development of the invention that the groove of the first pair of locking means has two lips bounding the groove, wherein the visible surface of the panel far Lip is longer than the visible surface of the panel near lip. In this way it can be ensured that the spring of the one panel when pivoting into the groove of the other panel does not unintentionally engage with the relatively rough base of the laying surface and is possibly exposed to a risk of damage, but that the spring is placed on the longer lower Nutbegrenzungslippe and can be pivoted on this sliding in the groove. When connecting the panels of the new row of panels to the superpanel, this can also be used to simplify the orientation of the panels relative to one another.

The inventive method is particularly advantageous when using panels in which the groove and the spring of the second pair of locking means are connected to each other by pivoting into each other. In principle, the method according to the invention can indeed also be used in panels in which the groove and the tongue of the second pair of locking means can be connected to one another by a substantially planar sliding over one another. However, for such panels there are also other laying methods which can be carried out in a simple manner by a single laying person.

To simplify the manufacturability of the panels, it is proposed that the first pair of locking means and the second pair of locking means are formed substantially identical.

Particularly advantageously, the inventive method can be used in panels having a core of a wood fiber material or a wood chip material, if desired, provided on its side facing the visible surface of the panels with a decorative layer and / or on its side facing away from the visible surface of the panel with a Gegenzugschicht is. In this case, suitable as wood-fiber material, for example MDF (m edium d ensity f iberboard) or HDF boards (h igh d ensity f iberboard) and as chipboard, for example OSB (o riented s tructural b Oard) are used.

It should also be added that the panels are preferably floor panels.

Fig. 1

eine grobschematische Draufsicht auf ein Paneel, welches mit Hilfe des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens verlegt werden kann;

Fig. 2

eine Querschnittsansicht längs der Linien II-II bzw. II'-II' in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3

eine schematische Stirnansicht des Paneels gemäß Fig. 1 in Ansicht aus Richtung des Pfeils III in Fig. 1 zur Erläuterung des Begriffs der Tordierbarkeit;

Fig. 4 und 5

schematische Draufsichten auf auf einem Untergrund verlegte Paneele zur Erläuterung des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens;

Fig. 6

eine Ansicht ähnlich Fig. 2 zur Erläuterung des Ausrichtens einer neu zu verlegenden Paneelreihe unter Zuhilfenahme der zuletzt verlegten Paneelreihe; und

Fig. 7a bis 7c

Ansichten ähnlich Fig. 2 zur Erläuterung des Ineinanderschwenkens der Verriegelungsmittel zweier benachbarter Paneele.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to an embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings. It shows:

Fig. 1

a rough schematic plan view of a panel which can be laid using the method according to the invention;

Fig. 2

a cross-sectional view along the lines II-II and II'-II 'in Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3

a schematic end view of the panel according to Fig. 1 in view from the direction of arrow III in Fig. 1 to explain the concept of twistability;

4 and 5

schematic plan views of laid on a substrate for explaining the method of the invention;

Fig. 6

a view similar Fig. 2 to explain the alignment of a new row of panels to be laid with the aid of the last laid row of panels; and

Fig. 7a to 7c

Similar views Fig. 2 for explaining the pivoting of the locking means of two adjacent panels.

In Fig. 1 is a panel that can be laid using the method according to the invention can be generally designated 10. The panel 10 is rectangular and comprises two mutually parallel side edges 12 and 14 of extending in the longitudinal direction L long sides of the panel 10, and two parallel side edges 16 and 18 extending in the transverse direction Q short sides of the panel 10. Both pairs of side edges 12th / 14 and 16/18 are provided with locking means, which are formed substantially in the form of a groove 20 and a spring 22.

The groove 20 is close to one of the visible surface 24 of the panel 10 near upper lip 20 a and a side facing away from the visible surface 24 bottom surface 26 of the panel 10, so the visible surface 24 distant lower lip 20 b limited. In the illustrated embodiment, the lower lip 20b is formed longer than the upper lip 20a and protrudes beyond the side edges 20, 16 of the panel (see FIG. Fig. 2 ). The groove bottom 20c of the groove 20 is in Fig. 1 indicated by dotted lines. From the lower lip 20b, in the vertical direction H of the panel 10, there is a locking projection 20d on which a locking surface 20e is formed. Furthermore, reference should still be made to a groove boundary surface 20f of the lower lip 20b, which runs essentially parallel to the visible surface 24, and a groove boundary surface 20g of the upper lip 20a which likewise extends substantially parallel to the visible surface 24.

The spring 22 begins at a boundary line 22c, which in Fig. 1 indicated by dashed lines and denotes the end of the main body of the panel 10. Further, an engagement projection 22a is provided on the spring 22, which engages under the upper lip 20a and in the in Fig. 7c shown connected state of two panels with a substantially to the visible surface 24 substantially parallel bearing surface 22g on the Nutbegrenzungsfläche 20g of the groove 20 is present. Furthermore, the spring 22 has a locking projection 22d. On the locking projection 22d on the one hand to the visible surface 24 of the panel 10 substantially parallel bearing surface 22f is formed with which the spring 22 in the locked state of two adjacent panels according to Fig. 7c to the lower groove boundary surface 20f of the lower lip 20b. On the other hand, a locking surface 22e is provided on the locking projection 22d, which in the locked state according to Fig. 7c on the locking surface 20e of the groove 20 abuts. Furthermore, a contact surface 22h is still provided on the end face of the spring 22, which extends to the visible surface 24 of the panel 10 is substantially orthogonal and in the locked state according to Fig. 7c on the end face 20h of the groove 20 is present.

In the in Fig. 7c illustrated locked state of two adjacent panels causes the interaction of the pairs of surfaces 20e / 22e and 20h / 22h a locking of the two panels together in a direction which is orthogonal to the height direction H of the panel and at the same time orthogonal to the respectively considered side edge. The interaction of the visible surface 24 of the panel 10 substantially parallel surface pairs 20g / 22g and 20f / 22f, however, causes a locking of the two panels in the height direction H of the panel 10th

As in Fig. 2 the groove 20 is incorporated in a core 30 of the panel 10, which may be made of a wood fiber material, preferably a medium-density fiberboard (MDF board) or a high-density fiberboard (HDF board), or a wood chipboard material, such as an OSB board. can be formed. On the visible surface 24 of the panel 10, the core 30 may be provided with a decorative layer 32 comprising, for example, one or more layers of paper, of which the top may be printed with a desired decor, and which are impregnated with synthetic resin and pressed into a laminate layer. In an analogous manner, the bottom surface 26 of the panel 10 may be covered with a Gegenzugschicht 34, which may be prepared in a manner analogous to the decorative layer 32 of a plurality of paper layers. Both the decorative layer 32 and the Gegenzugschicht 34 preferably extend over the entire visible surface 24 and bottom surface 26 of the panel 10. Only in the in Fig. 2 Dashed area 26a, ie the area adjacent to the lower lip 20b area, the bottom surface 26 of Gegenzugpapier 34 may be free to undesirable deflection of the lower lip 20b in Fig. 2 to avoid down.

It should also be noted that the panel 10 is provided in the region of the side edges 12, 14, 16, 18 adjacent to the viewing surface 24 with a chamfer 36 which, in cooperation with the corresponding chamfer of an adjacent panel, results in a V-groove which is primarily aesthetic Function has.

As in Fig. 3 is illustrated, the panels explained above have the property of being able to be twisted to some extent about their longitudinal axis L. So if you clamp the panel 10 at its two short side edges 16 and 18 and twisted these two side edges in opposite directions about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis L of the panel 10 extending axis, then results between the visible surface 24 in a side edge 16 adjacent portion and the visible surface 24 in an area adjacent to the side edge 18 an angle α. The same applies of course to the bottom surface 26 in the side edges 16 and 18 adjacent sections. If one relates this torsion angle α to a unit length of the panel 10, for example a length of 1 m, then this quantity measured in the unit "° / m" is a measure of the panelability of the panel 10.

The following is with reference to the FIGS. 4 and 5 will be explained how this property of the twistability in the inventive method for laying and mechanical connection of the panels is utilized.

In Fig. 4 a plurality of rows of panels arranged parallel to one another are shown, namely two already laid rows of panels 40 and 42, of which the row of panels 42 is the last row of panels laid, and a row of panels 44 to be newly laid.

In a first step of the process according to the invention, the panels 10 'are connected; 10 ", ... the newly to be laid panel row 44 in pairs with each other on their short sides 16 '/ 18", 16 "/ 18"', ... to a super-panel 46. It is important to ensure that the long sides 12 ', 14', 12 ", 14", ... of the panels 10 ', 10 ", ... are aligned with each other.

If the panels are laid in such a way that the panels of the respectively last laid row of panels 42 each assign their groove side edge 12 to the panels of the new row of panels 44 to be laid, this alignment of the panels of the row of panels 44 to be newly laid can be done in a simple manner on the last row of panels laid 42, as stated in Fig. 6 is shown. For this purpose, one puts the panels of the newly laid row of panels with their spring 22 on the lower Nutbegrenzungslippe 20b of the panels already laid panel row 42 and pushes the panels of new panel row 44 to be laid on the panels of the already laid panel row 42 zoom up to the end face 22i of the engagement projection 22a of the spring 22 comes to rest on the end face 20h of the upper groove boundary lip 20a of the panel of the already laid panel row 42. This condition is on average in Fig. 6 and in plan view for the entire newly laid panel row 44 and the super-panel 46 in Fig. 4 shown.

In a second step of the laying method according to the invention, the super-panel 46 or the new row of panels 44 to be laid is then connected to the row of panels 42 laid last. In this case, a laying person works from a longitudinal end 46a of the super-panel 46, in FIG Fig. 5 For example, the left longitudinal edge of the super-panel 46, to each other longitudinal edge 46b of the super-panel 46 and leads sections of the super-panel 46 with its engagement projection 22a in the groove 20 of the already laid panel row 42 (see Fig. 7a ). This section-wise procedure is made possible by the above-mentioned drivability of the panels 10. In Fig. 5 one recognizes that the super panel 46 at its in Fig. 5 left end 46a has already been merged with the panels of the last laid panel row, while at its in Fig. 5 right end 46b nor the alignment position according to Fig. 6 occupies.

As already stated above, the laying person now works from the one longitudinal end 46a of the super panel 46 to the other longitudinal end 46b, thereby inserting the engaging projection 22a of the super panel 46 into the groove 20 of the already laid row of panels 42 in a zipper-like manner ,

In this first substep of the second step of the method according to the invention, the mechanical connection between the panel row 44 to be newly laid or the super panel 46, on the one hand, and the last row of panels 42 laid, need not yet be completely brought about. That is, it is not necessary, the super-panel 46 immediately after the insertion of the engaging projection 22a in the groove 20 of the last laid row of panels completely pivot towards the ground U out until it rests on the substrate U, as shown in Fig. 7c is shown. Rather, it is enough to put the Super-Panel 46 by hand in an in Fig. 7b to pivot shown intermediate position, or to pivot by gravity even in this position, in which the locking surfaces 20e and 22e only loosely abut each other. If the super panel 46 is located along its entire length in this intermediate position according to Fig. 7b Then, in a second sub-step of the second step of the laying method according to the invention, the final locking position can proceed in sections from the one longitudinal end 46a of the super-panel 46 to the other longitudinal end 46b Fig. 7c be brought about.

Using the laying technique described above, the panels 10 can easily be easily laid by a single person laying material gentle.

Claims (9)

1. A method for laying and mechanically connecting panels (10) in rows (40,42,44) parallel to one another,
   wherein the panels (10) have respectively a first pair of side edges (12,14) lying opposite one another and a second of pair of side edges (16,18) lying opposite one another,
   wherein not only is a first pair of locking means (20,22) assigned to the first pair of side edges (12,14) but a second pair of locking means (20,22) is assigned to the second pair of side edges (16,18), wherein the pairs of locking means (20,22) are substantially in the form of a groove (20) and a tongue (22),
   wherein two adjacent panels (10) can be locked to one another by the locking means (20,22) both in a direction (H) extending orthogonally to the panel plane (L-Q) and also in a direction (L or Q) extending parallel to the panel plane (L-Q) and orthogonally to the respective side edge (12,14,16,18),
   wherein the groove (20) and the tongue (22) of the first pair of locking means (20,22) can be joined together by pivoting them into one another,
   wherein in the method
   initially in a first step a plurality of panels (10,10'...) of a panel row (44) to be newly laid are connected to one another in pairs by locking means of their respective second pairs of locking means (20,22) to form a superpanel (46), the width of which is equal to the dimension of the panels of the panel row (44) to be newly laid along its second pair of side edges (16,18), and the length of which is equal to a multiple, corresponding to the plurality of panels of the panel row (44) to be newly laid, of the dimension of the panels of the panel row (44) to be newly laid along its first pair of side edges (12,14),
   wherein, after the first step, the superpanel (46) is laid on the subfloor (U),
   and subsequently, in a second step, the interconnected panels of the panel row (44) to be newly laid are connected to the panels of the already laid panel row (42) by pivoting into one another of locking means of their respective first pairs of locking means (20,22),
   wherein, in one or more substeps, beginning at one (46a) of the ends of the panel row (44) to be newly laid, utilising the torsional flexibility of the panels (10,10' ...) about an axis (L) extending parallel to the first pair of side edges (12,14), the work proceeds in sections relative to the other one (46b) of its ends, and
   wherein, during this second step, the individual panels of the superpanel (46) do not move relative to one another along their second pair of side edges (16,18), wherein the panels (10) are laid in such an orientation that the panels of the already laid panel row (42) present their groove (20) respectively to the panels of the panel row (44) to be newly laid and wherein the panels of the panel row (44) to be newly laid are aligned with another in preparation for the first step or in the course of carrying out the first step, in that a lip (20a), which is adjacent the visible surface (24) of the panels of the already laid panel row (42) and delimits the groove (20), is used as a stop for the tongue (22) of the panels of the panel row (44) to be newly laid.
2. A method according to Claim 1,
   characterised in that in pivoting the panels (10) into one another initially the tongue (22) of the panels of one panel row (44) is inserted into the groove (20) of the panels of the other panel row (42) and, subsequently, after this has taken place along the entire panel row (44) to be newly laid, the panels of the new panel row (44) to be newly laid are pivoted so that the visible surfaces (24) of the panels of the already laid panel row (42) and the panel row (44) to be newly laid are arranged essentially in one plane.
3. A method according to Claim 1 or 2,
   characterised in that the torsional flexibility of the panels (10) about an axis (L) extending essentially parallel to their first pair of side edges (12,14) is at least 2°, preferably at least 4°, more preferably at least 6°, per metre length of the panel.
4. A method according to any one of Claims 1 to 3,
   characterised in that the panels (10) are rectangular panels, wherein the first pair of side edges (12,14) is assigned to the long side of the rectangle and the second pair of side edges (16,18) is assigned to the short side of the rectangle.
5. A method according to any one of Claims 1 to 4,
   characterised in that the first pair of locking means (20,22) and/or the second pair of locking means (20,22) are formed in one piece with a core (30) of the panel (10).
6. A method according to any one of Claims 1 to 5,
   characterised in that the groove (20) of the first pair of locking means (20,22) has two lips (20a,20b) delimiting the groove, wherein the lip (20b) remote from the visible surface (24) of the panel (10) is longer than the lip (20a) near the visible surface (24) of the panel (10).
7. A method according to any one of Claims 1 to 6,
   characterised in that the groove (20) and the tongue (22) of the second pair of locking means (20,22) can also be joined together by pivoting them into one another.
8. A method according to Claim 7,
   characterised in that the first pair of locking means (20,22) and the second pair of locking means (20,22) are formed substantially identically.
9. A method according to any one of Claims 1 to 8,
   characterised in that the panels (10) have a core (30) of a wood-fibre material or wood-chip material, which if desired is covered on its side facing the visible surface (24) of the panels (10) with a decorative layer (32) and/or on its side facing away from the visible surface (24) of the panels (10) with a counteracting layer (34).

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