EP2191083A1

EP2191083A1 - Connection for floor panels

Info

Publication number: EP2191083A1
Application number: EP08835056A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Peter Hamberger; Peter Huber
Original assignee: Hamberger Industriewerke GmbH
Current assignee: Hamberger Industriewerke GmbH
Priority date: 2007-10-05
Filing date: 2008-10-06
Publication date: 2010-06-02
Anticipated expiration: 2028-10-06
Also published as: WO2009043339A1; EP2191083B1; EP2181228A1; DE102007062106B4; DE102008013551A1; WO2009043336A1; DE102007062106A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a connection for floor panels comprising a tongue-and-groove connection (14, 16) along their longitudinal or transverse edges and a horizontal interlocking mechanism (32, 62). According to the invention, a guide projection (36) is formed at least on one transversal or longitudinal edge of a floor panel, along which two floor panels that are to be interconnected can be pre-adjusted in an intermediate position.

Description

description

Connection for floor panels

The invention relates to a connection for floor panels according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

Under the slogan "Glue-free connection" or "Click connection", a large number of solutions are currently being offered which are used in particular for laminate floors made of HDF / MDF or parquet floors.

Such a "click connection" is disclosed in EP 1 024 234 B1, in which NuW spring connections for vertical fixing and additional locking elements for horizontal locking are provided along the longitudinal and end or transverse edges. In this known solution, a lower, facing a bearing surface of the floor groove cheek of a panel is extended beyond a vertical parting plane between the panels and carries at its end a locking projection which dips into a corresponding recess on the underside of a spring of the other floor panel. The horizontal locking is carried out without play in this solution, so that even with larger temperature fluctuations only relatively small gaps between the facing edges arise. This known solution can be brought into engagement by sliding the panels to be laid flat or by inverting one panel with respect to the other panel.

A similar solution is shown in EP 0 098 162 B1, in which, however, the horizontal locking is carried out with a certain play, so that the panels can still be displaced along their adjacent edges when laid.

In EP 1 250 503 B1 a connection for floor panels is shown in which the two floor panels can be connected to each other only by an angle - a planar displacement of the panels for producing the locking engagement is not provided. In the solution mentioned above, the floor panels along the longitudinal and transverse edges can be connected to each other by the planar succession. For some customers, however, it is preferable to connect the panels with one another by means of an angle.

In some solutions, such as in the case of the solution disclosed in EP 1 250 503 B1, this connection is even possible only by angulation. In this case, a panel to be laid in an inclined position along the longitudinal edge is attached to an already laid panel so that, for example, the spring of the panel to be laid dips into the groove of the laid panel. Subsequently, we pivoted the panel to be laid down from a slanted position, wherein the groove is completely immersed in the spring and the horizontal locking devices engage each other such that the two panels are locked along the longitudinal edge.

The problem with these solutions is that the lock on the shorter end or transverse edges in the above Einschwenkvorgang is difficult to produce, so that - depending on the constructive solution - along the front edges either no vertical locking or this can be produced only with considerable effort.

To improve the locking at the front or transverse edges so-called push button systems are proposed in which the connection along the shorter edges is made by pivoting down the panel. Such solutions are described for example in DE 201 12 474 U1 or DE 10 2005 002 297.

From DE 19 962 830 C2, a connection is known, in which the horizontal locking takes place via a separate locking pin, which is formed in addition to a conventional tongue / groove connection. Even with a breakage of this locking pin, the relative arrangement of the panels in the vertical direction is ensured in this technically superior solution.

In those solutions in which the connection along the transverse edges by planar displacement takes place, the panel to be laid is brought by a punch block in locking engagement with the already laid panel. For this purpose, the two panels must be aligned along their edges and then connected as evenly as possible with the help of the impact block and a hammer. This approach may not be a problem for professional publishers, as the However, in the case of improper handling, it may happen that the floor panels are pointed along the transverse edges to be joined, so that the parting line between the two panels can correspondingly be damaged.

In contrast, the present invention seeks to provide a connection for floor panels, in which the laying is simplified by planar displacement.

This object is achieved by a connection for floor panels with the features of claim 1.

According to the invention, the floor panels to be joined along two edges have a conventional tongue and groove joint which is provided with a horizontal locking which can be brought into locking engagement by planar displacement or angulation. According to the invention, this connection is made with a guide projection on a panel which dips into a guide recess on the other panel whereby an intermediate position between the two floor panels is predetermined by cooperation of the guide projection and guide recess, in which the locking engagement is not yet established, but a predetermined relative positioning along the edges to be joined (longitudinal edge or transverse edge) is ensured. By this pre-adjustment tilting or displacement of the two panels when hitting or spotting is reliably prevented.

In a preferred embodiment, the spring in the intermediate position is not or only slightly immersed in the groove, so that the intermediate position can be easily achieved.

This pre-adjustment in the vertical direction is simplified when a dipping into the groove end portion of the spring is conical.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a horizontal locking ensuring locking projection on an extended lower cheek of a panel and a locking recess on the spring underside of the adjacent panel is formed. The preparation of the connection is particularly simple if the locking recess of the horizontal latch is also formed as a guide recess.

In a preferred embodiment, a further improved pre-adjustment is achieved, in which the guide projection is designed to be higher in the vertical direction than the locking projection.

The pre-adjustment is further optimized if the locking surface and a guide surface of the guide projection are approximately parallel, so that in a contact position a defined pre-positioning is ensured.

The floor joint according to the invention can be connected by planar displacement or by Einwinkein when the locking projection is below a lower groove surface containing a horizontal plane.

In a further embodiment of the invention, a recess is formed on the underside of the spring, which in the intermediate position overstretches the locking projection on the Nutunterwange, so that the panel to be laid can be lowered slightly deeper, as the locking projection dive into the space created by the recess can. In this way, the guidance of the panel to be laid is simplified when moving from the intermediate position to the locking position. Another advantage of such a variant is that the panel to be laid rests flat on the surface due to the above-described lower position.

It is preferred if the recess is designed as a groove.

In a further variant of the invention, the transition region between the apex of the locking projection and the guide projection is designed with a greater thickness than the part of the groove lower cheek arranged beyond the locking projection. The guide projection and the transition region to the locking projection then support the latter, so that an increased pull-out strength is achieved.

Laying tests have shown that in case of improper installation due to improper alignment of the panels, the transverse edge of the already installed panel may be damaged. In order to avoid this, in one variant of the invention, According to the invention compound arranged on the transverse edge spring extends in the region adjacent to the longitudinal edge region in the direction of the longitudinal edge to a stop area, so that the panel to be laid during installation rests only along this stop area on the transverse edge of the already laid panel and prevents damage when swung down becomes.

This stop area is preferably extended only by a few 1/10 millimeters in the longitudinal edge direction, wherein the width of this stop area (in the transverse edge direction) is more than 0.5 cm, preferably about 1 cm (in a standard panel).

The connection is preferably carried out so that the two panels can be brought by approximately planar displacement from the intermediate position in the locking position.

This approximately in the horizontal direction extending displacement is in one embodiment about one millimeter. However, the displacement can also be set variably.

The attachment of the panels in the intermediate position can be done by a combined vertical and horizontal displacement, during which movement, the two panels are aligned substantially parallel to each other.

According to the invention, it is preferred if the connection is made on the shorter transverse sides of the floor panels. At the longitudinal edges then one of the solutions described above can be used.

The invention can be realized particularly advantageously in floor panels with HDF / MDF core.

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

In the following preferred embodiments of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to schematic drawings. Show it:

Figure 1 is a highly simplified plan view of a executed with a first embodiment of a compound according to the invention floor panel; Figure 2 is a section along the line AA through a transverse edge of the floor panel of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a corresponding section along the line B-B in Figure 1;

FIG. 4 shows the detail X in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 Laying steps for connecting two floor panels along their transverse edges;

Figure 6 shows another embodiment of a compound according to the invention, wherein two panels to be joined together are shown in sections along the line A-A and B-B according to Figure 1 and

Figure 7 shows the two panels of Figure 5 in the locked state.

Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of a floor panel 1 of a laminate or parquet floor. Such a floor panel 1 has a rectangular shape in plan view with two longitudinal edges 2, 4 and two shorter transverse edges 6, 8. For glueless connection of two floor panels along the longitudinal edge 2 is a spring 12 and along the longitudinal edge 4 a groove 10 with extended Lower lip 11 formed, as they are known for example from the prior art described above.

These tongue and groove joints are designed with horizontal locking systems, as they are known for example from the prior art described above. These locking systems can be engaged with each other either by planar displacement and / or by angulation.

At the two shorter transverse edges 6, 8 are also each a groove 14 and a spring 16 are executed. The profiling of the two transverse edges 6, 8 will be explained with reference to Figures 2 and 3, the sections along the lines A-A and B-B in Figure 1 show.

According to the section shown in Figure 2 along the line AA in Figure 1, the groove 14 is formed at the transverse edge 8, which opens slightly in the illustrated embodiment, inwardly, ie, to the right in Figure 2. For this purpose, an upper groove surface 17 is slightly adjusted to the horizontal. A lower groove surface is formed with an approximately horizontally extending groove surface 18 and a Nutschrägfläche 20 adjacent to the groove bottom. The two last-mentioned surfaces 18, 20 are provided on an elongated groove bottom cheek 22 which extends in the horizontal direction (to the left in FIG. 2) beyond a top cheek 24. The upper beam 24 is limited by an end edge 26 frontally. On the Nutunterwange 22 a concave recess 28 is provided following the horizontal groove surface, which merges to the left, ie, the free end portion of the lower beam 22 in a locking projection 30 which is designed with a comparatively short in this embodiment locking surface 32, the is made oblique to the horizontal. The locking projection 30 then drops along its rear face 34 towards a guide projection 36 that extends vertically beyond the locking projection 30. As is apparent from the dotted line in Figure 2, a vertical extension of the guide projection 36 bounding upper surface 38 is closer to the upper groove surface 16 than the horizontal groove surface 18. The top 38 goes over an obliquely downward sloping guide surface 40 in the back 34 of the locking projection 30 over. The locking projection 30 is arranged below the groove plane 18 containing the horizontal plane.

The transverse edge 6 of the floor panel 1 shown in Figure 3 is carried out according to the spring 16, whose end portion is designed to be conical in the illustration of FIG. This conification is effected by an upper spring inclined surface 42 and a slightly convex spring surface 44. In the transition region between the two surfaces 42, 44, the spring 16 is provided with a rounding 46. The spring inclined surface 42 merges into a spring upper side 48, which slopes slightly downwards towards the horizontal, and extends approximately as far as a spring-side end edge 50. In the transition region between the spring-side end edge 50 and the top edge 48 of a bevel chamfer 52 is milled.

The slightly convex executed spring surface 44 merges into a horizontally extending spring underside 54, to which a slightly inclined to the horizontal salaried surface 56 connects to the left, which extends at a horizontal distance to a bottom 58 of the floor panel 1. This surface 56 extends practically from the predetermined by the spring-side end face 50 parting line inwardly up to a locking recess 60. This opens following the surface 56 with an inclined contact surface 62, which extends into an approximately parallel to the bottom 58 recess surface 64 passes. The left end portion of the locking recess 60 is formed by a vertical surface 66, which merges via a transition radius 68 in the recess surface 64. As can also be seen in FIG. 3, the recess surface 64 extends approximately in the horizontal plane, in which the tip of the spring 16 formed by the rounding 46 runs.

When laying the prescribed panels 1, 1 ', it may happen - especially in untrained publishers - that the already laid panels are not carefully aligned with one another in the longitudinal direction. That is, in particular for larger areas, the panels 1, 1 'seen in the longitudinal direction may be slightly arcuate, so that it can come in the transverse edge region at the angle of an open panel in the direction of the already laid panel to damage, since the transverse edges 6, 8 do not run parallel, but form an acute angle to each other. In the case where the improperly installed panels 1, 1 'form a concave arch towards the publisher, the distance between the transverse edges 6, 8 decreases towards the publisher, so that the transverse edge portions facing it collide when bent and thus the Good edge is damaged.

In order to prevent such a collision due to an angular offset between the transverse edges 6, 8 of the panels 1, V to be laid, in the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the spring 16 at the transverse edge 6 of the panel 1 to be laid in the adjacent to the longitudinal edge 2 Extended range to a stop region 78, said extension L is only a few 1/10 millimeters, for example, less than 0.5 cm. The width B of this extended contact area 78 in the illustrated embodiment is about 1 cm. By this stop area 78, the forward, towards the publisher directed areas of the transverse edges 6, 8 of the panels to be laid 1, 1 'held before striking at a distance L to each other, so that damage to the laid panel 1' when pivoting down the panel. 1 is avoided in the intermediate position. This ensures that the publisher can not apply the panel 1 to be laid along the entire transverse edge 6 to the already laid panel 1 ¹ . However, this stopper portion 78 does not necessarily have to be provided.

The function of the NuW spring connection shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 will be explained with reference to a laying operation. It is assumed that already some floor panels are laid and now another floor panel 1 should be attached to the already laid floor panels. For this purpose, the floor panel 1 to be laid along its longitudinal edge - for example, the longitudinal edge 12 - connected to the already laid panel 1 ¹ , which can be done by planar displacement or by Einwinkein. For connecting the two adjacent transverse According to FIG. 5a, the floor panel 1 to be laid is aligned with its transverse edge 6 with respect to the corresponding transverse edge 8 of the already laid floor panel 1 'in such a way that the spring 16 projects just below the end edge 26 and vertically above the extended lower wall 22 of the already laid floor panel 1 'extends and only with the end face of the stop portion 78 or, if this is not formed, with the rounding 46 of the spring 16 abuts against the end edge 26 of the Nutoberwange 24.

Following this, the transverse edge 6 of the floor panel 1 to be laid is lowered in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 5a down to the extended groove cheek 22 of the laid floor panel 1 'until the surface 56 on the transverse edge 6 comes to rest on the locking projection 30 of the lower wall 22. In this investment position then also the rear abutment surface 62 of the locking recess 60 abuts against the guide surface 40 of the guide projection 36. In order to make this possible, the length L of the Nutunterwange (measured from the predetermined by the end edge 26 parting plane to the beginning of the guide surface 40 (see Figure 5b)) is slightly greater than or equal to the length I of the spring 16, measured from the rounding 46 to the beginning of the contact surface 62, executed so that the spring 16 comes to lie with its underside on the extended lower cheek 22, wherein the relative position in the horizontal direction to the left (view of Figure 5a) by the system of surfaces 62, 40 is predetermined , The provided at a distance from the locking projection 30 guide projection 36 thus ensures an exact pre-adjustment of the two floor panels 1, 1 'along their transverse edges 6, 8, wherein in this self-adjusting intermediate position a gap S (see Figure 5b) between the adjacent end edges 26, 50th remains. The spring 16 dives with the abutment portion 78 in sections in the groove 14 a.

Subsequently, a notch block is attached to the transverse edge 8 of the floor panel 1 to be laid and not shown in Figure 5 and the floor panel 1 by means of a hammer in the horizontal direction (arrow in Figure 5b) moved so that the spring 16 is immersed in the groove 14 and the Appendix between the two approximately parallel surfaces 62, 40 is repealed. During this wrapping process, the gap S closes until the two end edges 26, 50 of the two panels 1, 1 'abut each other and the spring 16 is completely immersed in the groove 14, in which case the rounding 46 and the end face of the stop portion 78 still at a distance from the groove bottom 70 extends. In this case, the spring 16 rests along the surfaces 48 and 54 against the groove surfaces 16 and 18 and the obliquely extending locking surface 32 engages behind the abutment surface 62 of the locking recess 60, so that the transverse edges 6, 8 are locked in horizontal and vertical directions. In this locking position of the guide projection 36 is completely received in the locking recess 62, wherein the guide surface 40 is formed in a gap S corresponding distance to the contact surface 62. The upper side 38 of the guide projection 36 extends at a distance from the recess surface 64.

5c, the lower sides 58 and the upper sides 72 of the floor panels 1, 1 'are exactly flush with one another, wherein a sharpening or damage due to the pre-adjustment of the two floor panels 1, 1' reliably prevented via the guide projection 36 and over the stop area 78 can be. This laying aid also allows less experienced to carry out faultless floor laying in professional quality.

A further exemplary embodiment of the invention will be explained with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, the basic structure of which largely corresponds to the above-described exemplary embodiments, so that only the differences are explained here. Also in this embodiment, a stopper portion 78 is formed on the executed with a spring 16 transverse edge 6, which in turn is formed as a projection on the spring 16. On the spring underside 54 of the spring 16, a groove 74 is formed, which covers the locking projection 30 of the already laid panel 1 'when lowering the panel to be laid 1 in the intermediate position. In FIG. 6, the panel 1 to be laid is shown in a position shortly before reaching the above-described intermediate position. In a further down pivoting of the panel 1 to the panel 1 'out, then the locking projection 30 immersed in the space created by the groove 74, so that the panel 1 can be pivoted down to the underside with respect to the solution described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 , Due to the resulting flatter edition is to be laid, longitudinally already inflected panel 1 then much more plump on the subsoil, as it is the case in the solution described above, so that can be dispensed with a longitudinally patched laying aid. In the solutions described above, however, it may be necessary, in the region of the transverse edges a short laying aid sit longitudinally on the panels 1, V, so that they are fixed in position relative to each other. Also in this embodiment, damage to the spring 16 or the upper groove cheek 26 is prevented when tilting the panel 1 to the already laid panel V on the stop area 78, since a possible angular offset between the transverse edges 6, 8 is compensated. Another advantage is that the spring 16 of the panel 1 to be laid in the vertical direction is much better aligned with respect to the groove 14 of the already laid panel 1 ¹ , so that the front-milled spring inclined surface 42 when moving from the intermediate position to the locking position only supports and not - as in the embodiment described above - serves as a guide element.

In the locked state of the two panels 1, 1 'shown in Figure 7, the groove 74 is then in the area defined by the recess 28, in which case an enlarged chamber 76 is created in which any impurities or the like can accumulate without the pull-out forces are reduced.

A further advantage of the connection according to the invention becomes clear on the basis of the illustration according to FIG. By the formation of the guide projection 36 on the lower groove cheek 22 and adjoining the guide projection 36, upwards (view of Figure 7) by the guide surface 40 and the back 34 of the locking projection 30 limited transition region to the apex of the locking projection 30, the Shear strength significantly increased because this part of the lower lip 22 supports the locking projection 30 practically in the horizontal direction. In conventional solutions, the extended lower cheek 22 ends following the locking projection 30, so that, for example, in a shrinkage of the panel during the heating period due to then occurring in particular in the longitudinal direction of the panel 1 forces to a shearing of the locking projection 30 and thus to could form a column in the longitudinal edge region. Due to the support of the locking projection 30 on the guide projection 36 and the abutting portions of the extended lower beam 22, the locking projection 30 can accommodate much higher shrinkage forces, so that a gap formation is effectively prevented.

This support is improved in the variant according to the invention in particular by the fact that the lowest point of the transition region, ie the transition region between the guide surface 40 and the back 34 of the locking projection 30 lies in a plane G, which lies in the view of Figure 7 above a plane H. in which the locking surface 32 of the locking projection 30 ends or, in other words, the recess 28 begins on the lower beam 22. In the embodiments described above, the transverse edges 8 are each designed with a guide projection 36. In principle, such guide projections and the variants otherwise disclosed can also be provided on the longitudinal edges 11. The above-described stop area 78 can in principle be provided for all tongue and groove joints with and without horizontal latches and for all panel materials (laminate, parquet, etc.).

Disclosed is a connection for floor panels having along their longitudinal or transverse edges a tongue and groove connection and a horizontal lock. According to the invention, at least on a transverse or longitudinal edge of a floor panel, a guide projection is formed, along which two floor panels to be joined together can be pre-adjusted in the horizontal direction in an intermediate position.

LIST OF REFERENCES:

floor panel

longitudinal edge

transverse edge

groove

feather

groove

Spring upper groove surface horizontal groove surface

Slanted surface lengthened lower cheek

upper beam

front edge

recess

locking projection

Verrieglungsfläche

back

guide projection

top

guide surface

Spring oblique surface

tongue surface

rounding

Spring top Spring-side end edge

sloping bevel

Spring-side

area

bottom

locking recess

contact surface

recess surface

vertical space Transition radius

groove base

top

fillet

room

stop area

Claims

claims

1. Connection for floor panels, the longitudinal and transverse edges (2, 4, 6, 8), wherein along at least two edges (2, 4, 6, 8) of two panels (1, 1 ') to be joined together, a groove / Spring connection (14, 16) is designed for vertical fixing, wherein a groove cheek (22) of the groove (14) on the other groove cheek (24) out to the other panel (1) is extended towards and a horizontal lock (32, 62) is formed which can be brought into locking engagement by planar displacement or angling of the floor panels (1, 1 '), wherein in the locked state a locking projection (30) on one of the panels (1, 1') has a contact surface (62) of a locking recess (60 ) on the other panel (1, 1 ') engages behind, characterized in that at a distance from the horizontal latch (30) in a not yet locked state in a guide recess (60) dipping guide projection (36) is formed, along which the two panels ( 1, 1 ') in Horiz ontalrichtung pre-adjusted in an intermediate position.

2. A compound according to claim 1, wherein the spring (16) in the intermediate position is not or only slightly immersed in the groove.

3. A compound according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the spring (16) is conical along an end portion.

4. A compound according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the locking projection (30) on the extended lower cheek (22) of a panel (1, 1 ') and the locking recess (60) on an adjacent spring underside of the other panel (1, 1') is.

5. A compound according to claim 4, wherein the locking recess (60) also acts as a guide recess.

6. A compound according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the guide projection (36) projects beyond the locking projection (30) in the vertical direction.

7. A compound according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the abutment surface (62) of the locking recess (60) extends approximately parallel to a guide surface (40) of the guide projection (36).

8. A compound according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the locking projection (30) is in its operative position below a lower groove surface (18) containing horizontal plane.

9. A compound according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein on a spring underside (54) of the spring (12) has a recess (74) is formed, which in the intermediate position, the locking projection (30) overstretched.

10. A compound according to claim 9, wherein the recess is a groove (74).

11. A compound according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the between the locking projection (30) and the guide projection (36) arranged region (34, 40) of the elongated groove cheek (22) has a greater thickness than the beyond the locking projection (30) arranged area ( 28) of the groove cheek (22).

12. A compound according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the provided with a spring (12) transverse edge (6) in the longitudinal edge direction in sections to a stop region (78) is extended.

13. A compound according to claim 12, wherein the stop area (78) relative to the other part of the transverse edge (6) is extended by less than 0.5 mm and the width (B) of the stop area (78) transversely to the longitudinal edge (2) more than 0.5 cm, preferably about 1 cm.

14. A compound according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the two floor panels (1, 1 ') can be brought by approximately planar displacement from the intermediate position into the locking position.

15. A compound according to claim 14, wherein the displacement distance (S) is about 1 mm.

16. A compound according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the two floor panels (1, 1 ') can be brought by a combined vertical and horizontal displacement in the locking position, wherein the panels (1, 1') are moved substantially parallel to each other.

17. A compound according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein this on the transverse sides (6, 8) of the floor panels (1, 1 ') is formed.

18. A compound according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the floor panels (1, 1 ¹ ) are made essentially of HDF / MDF.