EP3320160A1 - Élément de revêtement de sol rectangulaire, flexible et chiral - Google Patents

Élément de revêtement de sol rectangulaire, flexible et chiral

Info

Publication number
EP3320160A1
EP3320160A1 EP16733577.7A EP16733577A EP3320160A1 EP 3320160 A1 EP3320160 A1 EP 3320160A1 EP 16733577 A EP16733577 A EP 16733577A EP 3320160 A1 EP3320160 A1 EP 3320160A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
floor covering
connection profile
long edge
edge
profile
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
EP16733577.7A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Jean-Yves Simon
Jonas Bladh
André CRESSON
Mathias LEWARK
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Tarkett GDL SA
Original Assignee
Tarkett GDL SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Tarkett GDL SA filed Critical Tarkett GDL SA
Publication of EP3320160A1 publication Critical patent/EP3320160A1/fr
Pending legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04—BUILDING
    • E04F—FINISHING WORK ON BUILDINGS, e.g. STAIRS, FLOORS
    • E04F15/00—Flooring
    • E04F15/02—Flooring or floor layers composed of a number of similar elements
    • E04F15/02038—Flooring or floor layers composed of a number of similar elements characterised by tongue and groove connections between neighbouring flooring elements
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04—BUILDING
    • E04F—FINISHING WORK ON BUILDINGS, e.g. STAIRS, FLOORS
    • E04F15/00—Flooring
    • E04F15/02—Flooring or floor layers composed of a number of similar elements
    • E04F15/10—Flooring or floor layers composed of a number of similar elements of other materials, e.g. fibrous or chipped materials, organic plastics, magnesite tiles, hardboard, or with a top layer of other materials
    • E04F15/105—Flooring or floor layers composed of a number of similar elements of other materials, e.g. fibrous or chipped materials, organic plastics, magnesite tiles, hardboard, or with a top layer of other materials of organic plastics with or without reinforcements or filling materials
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04—BUILDING
    • E04F—FINISHING WORK ON BUILDINGS, e.g. STAIRS, FLOORS
    • E04F2201/00—Joining sheets or plates or panels
    • E04F2201/01—Joining sheets, plates or panels with edges in abutting relationship
    • E04F2201/0123—Joining sheets, plates or panels with edges in abutting relationship by moving the sheets, plates or panels parallel to the abutting edges
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04—BUILDING
    • E04F—FINISHING WORK ON BUILDINGS, e.g. STAIRS, FLOORS
    • E04F2201/00—Joining sheets or plates or panels
    • E04F2201/01—Joining sheets, plates or panels with edges in abutting relationship
    • E04F2201/0153—Joining sheets, plates or panels with edges in abutting relationship by rotating the sheets, plates or panels around an axis which is parallel to the abutting edges, possibly combined with a sliding movement
    • E04F2201/0161—Joining sheets, plates or panels with edges in abutting relationship by rotating the sheets, plates or panels around an axis which is parallel to the abutting edges, possibly combined with a sliding movement with snap action of the edge connectors
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04—BUILDING
    • E04F—FINISHING WORK ON BUILDINGS, e.g. STAIRS, FLOORS
    • E04F2201/00—Joining sheets or plates or panels
    • E04F2201/02—Non-undercut connections, e.g. tongue and groove connections
    • E04F2201/023—Non-undercut connections, e.g. tongue and groove connections with a continuous tongue or groove
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04—BUILDING
    • E04F—FINISHING WORK ON BUILDINGS, e.g. STAIRS, FLOORS
    • E04F2201/00—Joining sheets or plates or panels
    • E04F2201/04—Other details of tongues or grooves
    • E04F2201/042—Other details of tongues or grooves with grooves positioned on the rear-side of the panel
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04—BUILDING
    • E04F—FINISHING WORK ON BUILDINGS, e.g. STAIRS, FLOORS
    • E04F2201/00—Joining sheets or plates or panels
    • E04F2201/04—Other details of tongues or grooves
    • E04F2201/043—Other details of tongues or grooves with tongues and grooves being formed by projecting or recessed parts of the panel layers

Definitions

  • the invention generally relates to a flexible (i.e. bendable) rectangular floor covering element (e.g. a plank or a tile) with connection profiles arranged on its four edges.
  • a flexible (i.e. bendable) rectangular floor covering element e.g. a plank or a tile
  • connection profiles arranged on its four edges.
  • Floor covering elements with conjugate connection profiles are known in the art. Such profiles have first been used on wood floor elements.
  • One of their simplest embodiments comprises a tongue profile (or male profile) and a groove profile (or female profile).
  • Each floor covering element has one long edge with a tongue profile and the opposite long edge with a groove profile.
  • Laying such a wood floor is typically done in the following way. A first row of floor covering elements is installed beginning on the left and adding new floor covering elements on the right of the elements already in place.
  • the parquet recliner puts it in place and then taps on its right edge with a hammer to obtain a firm engagement of the profiles on the short edges.
  • the next rows are laid as the first row except that the parquet recliner also taps the floor covering element on the long edge next to him in order to obtain a firm engagement also on the long edges.
  • the floor covering elements were arranged in the following way: when looking at the top face of the floor covering element and holding it such that the long edge with the tongue profile is in the 12-o'clock position (the long edge with the groove profile is thus in the 6 o'clock position), then the short edge with the groove profile is in the 3-o'clock position (on a conventional clock, not a Venezuelan clock, for instance) and the short edge with the tongue profile is in the 9-o'clock position (on the conventional clock). That order of the edges is comfortable for the majority of people who are right-handed and thus prefer to hold the hammer in the right hand. To the knowledge of the inventors that order has never been put into question and was taken over on any later developed floor covering element with connection profiles.
  • tongue-and-groove connection profiles were developed that provide better protection against separation.
  • the tongue profile is angled into the groove profile whereupon the floor covering element with the tongue is hinged down.
  • the connection profiles deform resiliently and then snap into place.
  • the tongue profile is thus locked in the groove profile such that a separation thereof requires a higher amount of force or a specific relative movement of the profiles.
  • the profiles are made of relatively hard material, such as, e.g. wood, a click can be heard when the connection profiles are securely connected.
  • angling-type connectors are provided on the four edges of each floor covering element, the new element to be laid is first angled into the element on the left already in place.
  • the new element is declined towards the rear and angled into the row behind.
  • the latter step requires that the element(s) on the left follow the movement of the new element. They are thus also raised at their front and hinged down. Installing such floor covering elements requires some coordination, which is however easily acquired through some practice.
  • each element comprises a connection profile with an overhang that is the counterpart of the connection profile on the right short edge, which has a protrusion at the bottom side.
  • the connection profiles on the short edges are configured in such a way that they can be assembled by simply dropping down the new element to be installed from the angled position into the final horizontal position.
  • a first aspect of the invention relates to a flexible, preferably polymer-based, rectangular floor covering element, such as e.g. a plank or a tile, in particular for the installation of a floating floor.
  • the floor covering element has six sides: a decorative top face and a bottom face for contacting the underfloor, as well as four lateral faces herein referred to as the edges of the floor covering element.
  • the first long edge has a first connection profile with a recess at the bottom face and a tongue overhanging the recess.
  • the second long edge opposite the first long edge has a second connection profile that is complementary (conjugate) to the first connection profile and that has a protrusion at the bottom face and a groove for receiving the tongue of the first connection profile.
  • the first short edge is equipped with the first connection profile and the second short edge is equipped with the second connection profile.
  • the edges of the floor covering element are arranged in the following order in the clockwise direction: 1 ) the first long edge (with the first connection profile), 2) the first short edge (with the first connection profile), 3) the second long edge (with the second connection profile) and 4) the second short edge (with the second connection profile).
  • a floor covering element designates a floor covering element that can be bent to a radius of curvature of 50 cm, preferably to a radius of curvature of 25 cm, or even to a smaller radius of curvature, without visible deterioration. It will be understood, however, that a floor covering element according to the first aspect of the invention is not totally soft (such as a carpet with a foam backing) but has a firmness or rigidity that makes the floor covering element suitable for the secure installation of a floating floor covering by interconnecting the floor covering elements by means of the connection profiles.
  • the first connection profile on the first long edge is identical to the first connection profile on the first short edge and the second connection profile on the second long edge is identical to the second connection profile on the second short edge.
  • the first connection profile on the first long edge differs from the first connection profile on the first short edge and the second connection profile on the second long edge differs from the second connection profile on the second short edge.
  • both first connection profiles are of the same type (first type) and comprise each a recess at the bottom face and a tongue overhanging the recess, the shapes and/or the dimensions thereof being different in the detail, however.
  • both second connection profiles are of the same type (second type) and comprise each a protrusion at the bottom face and a groove, the shapes and/or the dimensions thereof being chosen such as to be able to mate with the respective first connection profile.
  • the floor covering element according to the first aspect of the invention is preferably a synthetic (polymer-based) floor covering element, more preferably a vinyl tile, such as, e.g. a vinyl composition tile, a solid vinyl tile or a luxury vinyl tile.
  • a polymer-based floor covering element may be PVC-based or PVC-free.
  • the decorative top face comprises a decorative pattern representing a wood flooring, a bamboo flooring, a stone flooring, a ceramic flooring or a cork flooring. Any other decorative pattern, e.g. a photograph, a drawing or an abstract design, could of course also be used on the top face.
  • the height of the floor covering element is comprised in the range from 3 to 7 mm, preferably in the range from 3 to 5 mm.
  • the first and second connection profiles are preferably configured for interlocking floor covering elements to be assembled by angling the first connection profile into the second connection profile and then bringing the floor covering elements to be assembled into alignment.
  • the first and second connection profiles are preferably configured in such a way as to deform resiliently and to snap into place when the floor covering elements to be assembled are brought into alignment.
  • a second aspect of the invention relates to a set of floor covering elements (hereinafter: the first set of floor covering elements) according to the first aspect of the invention, having user information associated therewith indicating that the set of floor covering elements is best suited for right-handed persons and/or for installation from left to right.
  • the user information could be provided as a textual or pictorial notice on or in the packaging of the set of floor covering elements.
  • the packaging could comprise (on its outside or in its interior) an Internet link (in textual form or in the form of a machine-readable code, such as, e.g., a QR-code or another type of matrix barcode with or without colour coding) pointing to an Internet site on which the user information is available as a text, pictures (including photos and/or pictograms), a sound file or stream, a video file or stream, or any combination thereof.
  • a third aspect of the invention relates to a method of laying a floor covering using floor covering elements according to the first aspect of the invention.
  • the method comprises laying the floor covering elements row by row, each row being laid from left to right and each new row being laid in front of the rows already laid, wherein each element to be laid that has both a left-hand neighbour and a rear row already in place is first angled with its second short edge into the first short edge of the left-hand neighbour and then angled with its first long edge into the second long edge of the element or elements of the rear row.
  • a fourth aspect of the invention relates to a set of floor covering elements (hereinafter: the second set of floor covering elements), wherein each floor covering element is a mirror image of but otherwise identical with the floor covering element according to the first aspect of the invention.
  • the second set of floor covering elements has user information associated therewith indicating that the set of floor covering elements is best suited for left-handed persons and/or for installation from right to left.
  • the association of the user information with the second set of floor covering elements can be achieved in the same way as the association of the user information with the first set of floor covering elements.
  • the association with the user information could also be made with different colours or otherwise different configurations of the packagings referring to the corresponding user information on display in the store.
  • each floor element has a decorative top face and a bottom face for contacting an underfloor and comprises: a first long edge with the first connection profile, a second long edge with the second connection profile, a first short edge with the first connection profile; and a second short edge with the second connection profile.
  • the edges are arranged in the following order in the clockwise direction: 1 ) the first long edge, 2) the second short edge, 3) the second long edge and 4) the first short edge.
  • a fifth aspect of the invention relates to a method of laying a floor covering using floor covering elements of a second set of floor covering elements.
  • the method comprises laying the floor covering elements row by row, each row being laid from right to left and each new row being laid in front of the rows already laid, wherein each element to be laid that has a right-hand neighbour and a rear row already in place is first angled with its second short edge into the first short edge of the right-hand neighbour and then angled with its first long edge into the second long edge of the element or elements of the rear row.
  • Fig. 1 is a top view of a floor covering made with flooring tiles in accordance with the first aspect of the invention
  • Fig. 2 is a transversal cross-sectional view of first and second connection profiles
  • Fig. 3 is a transversal cross-sectional view illustrating how the second short edge of a flooring tile to be installed is connected with the right short edge of a flooring tile on the left already in place;
  • Fig. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a packaging of flooring tiles best suited for installation from left to right
  • Fig. 5 is a schematic perspective view of a packaging of flooring tiles best suited for installation from right to left.
  • Fig. 1 is a schematic top view of a part of a floor covering 10 made with flexible flooring tiles 12 in accordance with the first aspect of the invention.
  • the flooring tiles 12 are of the double-angling type.
  • Each flooring tile 12 has six sides: a decorative top face 14, a bottom face 16 (see Fig. 2) for contacting the underfloor 22 (see Fig. 2), two long edges 18a, 18b and two short edges 20a, 20b.
  • the long edges comprise a first long edge 18a equipped with a first connection profile and a second long edge 18b opposite the first long edge 18a and equipped with a second connection profile that is complementary (conjugate) to the first connection profile.
  • the short edges comprise a first short edge 20a equipped with the first connection profile and a second short edge equipped with the second connection profile.
  • Fig. 2. Shows the first and second connection profiles in cross section.
  • the first connection profile hereinafter referred to as the male profile M
  • the second connection profile hereinafter referred to as the female profile F
  • the shapes of the connecting profiles are conjugate to each other meaning that they can be brought into engagement. It should be noted, however, that the contour lines of the male and female profiles in cross section need not be completely identical. In the illustrated example, the male and female profiles can be brought into interlocking engagement.
  • connection profiles can be experienced when laying the floor covering.
  • a floor is typically laid by first laying the rearmost row of flooring times from the left to the right and then installing the next row. Except for the first row and the leftmost tile in each row, a new flooring tile is always added in front and to the right of the tiles already in place.
  • the male and female connectors shown in Fig. 2 are so-called angling-type connectors: when a new flooring tile is installed, the user holds it in the orientation described above and shown in Fig. 1 . The user then angles the edge on the left of the new flooring tile under the overhanging tongue of the flooring tile on the left already in place (see Fig. 3). When the tongue has thereby entered the groove, the new flooring tile is hinged down. During this movement, the connection profiles deform resiliently and then snap into place. Depending on the stiffness of the polymer material of the flooring tile (and thus the connection profiles) a clicking noise may or may not be heard by the user.
  • the male and female profiles are now interlocked with each other such that their separation would require a high amount of force (potentially leading to damage on the flooring tiles) or the reverse movement of the profiles.
  • the next step is the connection of the new flooring tile with the tile or the tiles in the row behind.
  • the user typically holds the new flooring tile with both hands.
  • the left hand supports the new tile at the corner of the second long edge 18b and the second short edge 20b while the right hand supports it at the corner of the second long edge 18b and the first short edge 20a.
  • the new tile and the tile to its left are already connected with each other.
  • the user now raises the second long edge 18b of the new tile, giving the new tile a decline towards the row behind.
  • the tile to the left has to follow that decline because of its engagement with the new tile.
  • Fig. 4 shows an example of a packaging 36a of a set of flooring tiles according to the first aspect of the invention.
  • the packaging 36a comprises several indications that the flooring tiles are most suitable for installation by right-handed persons, in particular a matrix barcode 38a, a pictogram representing a right hand 40a and a textual notice 42a.
  • Fig. 5 shows an example of a packaging 36b of a set of flooring tiles according to the fourth aspect of the invention.
  • the packaging 36b comprises several indications that the flooring tiles are most suitable for installation by left-handed persons, in particular a matrix barcode 38b, a pictogram representing a left hand 40b and a textual notice 42b.
  • flooring tiles of a set according to the fourth aspect of the invention are mirrored versions of flooring tiles according to the first aspect of the invention. In fact, either the short or the long edges of the tiles are permuted. Installation of the mirrored tiles is carried out in exactly the same way as that of the tiles of Fig. 1 , except that left and right are inverted.
  • flooring tiles according to the first aspect of the invention are most suitable for installation from left to right, while mirrored flooring tiles are most suitable for installation from right to left, irrespectively of the handedness of the person installing them.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Floor Finish (AREA)

Abstract

Un élément de revêtement de sol rectangulaire, de préférence à base de polymère, flexible de type à double inclinaison a six côtés : une face supérieure décorative et une face inférieure, ainsi que quatre bords. Le premier bord long a un premier profil de raccord pourvu d'un évidement au niveau de la face inférieure et d'une languette surplombant l'évidement. Le second bord long opposé au premier bord long a un second profil de raccord pourvu d'une saillie au niveau de la face inférieure et d'une rainure destinée à recevoir la languette du premier profil. Le premier bord court est équipé du premier profil et le second bord court est équipé du second profil. Lorsque l'on regarde l'élément de revêtement de sol à partir d'au-dessus de la face supérieure, les bords de l'élément de revêtement de sol sont agencés dans l'ordre suivant dans le sens des aiguilles d'une montre : 1) le premier bord long, 2) le premier bord court, 3) le second bord long et 4) le second bord court.
EP16733577.7A 2015-07-06 2016-06-30 Élément de revêtement de sol rectangulaire, flexible et chiral Pending EP3320160A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP15175455 2015-07-06
PCT/EP2016/065330 WO2017005603A1 (fr) 2015-07-06 2016-06-30 Élément de revêtement de sol rectangulaire, flexible et chiral

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3320160A1 true EP3320160A1 (fr) 2018-05-16

Family

ID=53514075

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP16733577.7A Pending EP3320160A1 (fr) 2015-07-06 2016-06-30 Élément de revêtement de sol rectangulaire, flexible et chiral

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (2) US20180179763A1 (fr)
EP (1) EP3320160A1 (fr)
CN (2) CN107750296A (fr)
RU (1) RU2710945C2 (fr)
WO (1) WO2017005603A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CA2786529C (fr) * 2010-01-11 2019-06-25 Mannington Mills, Inc. Revetement de sol a conception verrouillee
US10422143B2 (en) * 2015-10-08 2019-09-24 Berryalloc Nv Set of panels for floor, wall or ceiling covering
CN110145091A (zh) * 2019-06-04 2019-08-20 安徽扬子地板股份有限公司 一种地板的铺装方法

Family Cites Families (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
SE501014C2 (sv) * 1993-05-10 1994-10-17 Tony Pervan Fog för tunna flytande hårda golv
SE525558C2 (sv) * 2001-09-20 2005-03-08 Vaelinge Innovation Ab System för bildande av en golvbeläggning, sats av golvskivor samt förfarande för tillverkning av två olika typer av golvskivor
EP2224072B1 (fr) * 2003-03-06 2012-05-09 Välinge Innovation AB Systèmes de plancher et procédés d'installation
US20060194015A1 (en) * 2004-11-05 2006-08-31 Vincente Sabater Flooring system with slant pattern
DK2339092T3 (da) * 2009-12-22 2019-07-22 Flooring Ind Ltd Sarl Fremgangsmåde til fremstilling af belægningspaneler
BE1019331A5 (nl) * 2010-05-10 2012-06-05 Flooring Ind Ltd Sarl Vloerpaneel en werkwijzen voor het vervaardigen van vloerpanelen.
CA2809984C (fr) * 2011-09-28 2014-03-18 Distribution Duroy Inc. Panneau de revetement et methode d'assemblage d'une pluralite de ces panneaux
BE1020722A3 (nl) * 2012-06-01 2014-04-01 Unilin Bvba Paneel voor het vormen van een vloerbekleding en werkwijze voor het vervaardigen van dergelijke panelen.
FR3024990B1 (fr) * 2014-08-25 2018-11-16 Gerflor Panneau de sol pour la realisation d'un revetement.
US9249582B1 (en) * 2014-11-14 2016-02-02 Awi Licensing Company Interlocking floor panels with high performance locking profiles
US9216857B1 (en) * 2014-12-04 2015-12-22 Amazon Technologies, Inc. Automated inventory management system
WO2016113676A1 (fr) * 2015-01-15 2016-07-21 Flooring Industries Limited, Sarl Panneau de plancher pour la formation d'un revêtement de plancher

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
RU2710945C2 (ru) 2020-01-14
RU2018102592A3 (fr) 2019-08-06
US20180179763A1 (en) 2018-06-28
CN107750296A (zh) 2018-03-02
RU2018102592A (ru) 2019-08-06
US20220396954A1 (en) 2022-12-15
WO2017005603A1 (fr) 2017-01-12
CN117661809A (zh) 2024-03-08

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