EP3372750B1 - Floorboard system - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a floor board system with floor boards made of design-resistant material, which have a top, a bottom and sides surrounding them, namely longitudinal and end faces, with a connecting system for adjoining connection of the floor boards to one another, which has mutually engaging projections and recesses, wherein the connection system contains a connector made of a flexible material, which has a support surface projecting over the underside for supporting the floor board system on a substrate.

Floor boards, which can also be called floor panels, floor panels, etc., are laid as running and tread surfaces on a surface that consists of a more or less smooth or rough surface, e.g. a screed, or another substructure, e.g. can consist of beams. In the following descriptions, the terms horizontal, vertical, top, bottom etc. are used to refer to a floor board in the use position, i.e. flat on the floor.

From the DE 10 2009 014 603 A1 a floor covering has become known with which four square floor panels are connected by means of a connecting element which has the shape of a cross, knobs protrude from the arms and engage in holes on the underside of the floor panels. The bottom of the cross rests on the ground. The system does not offer protection against lifting one floor slab over the other.

Similar connecting elements describe the DE 10 2011 012 023 A1 , DE 4222 936 A1 and DE 10 2010 014 131 A1 . There are strip or plate-shaped connecting elements are shown, of which the knobs are up. Some of them have a ribbed profile to fit in the holes to keep the floor panels. A protruding center bar is used to maintain a distance in order to form a gap between the panels. A spoke wheel-shaped version of this type shows the DE 202 01 654 U1 for the floor panels of an exhibition stand. The DE 3902 419 A1 describes plates pressed from old tires, in which knobs are formed in recesses, onto which rings can be pushed for connection.

There are a large number of floor coverings on the market, such as finished parquet or laminate floors, the connection of which works according to the tongue and groove system. Projections on one side of the plate engage in recesses on the other side of the plate of the neighboring plate and are connected to one another there either by snap-in or by swivel-in. An example of the snap connection is in the DE 60213161 T2 shown, the pivoting shows the DE 10 2005 034 094 A1 .

Finally, a double-T connector is known, which engages in a groove in the side surface and on the underside of the plates. For the connection, the two plates must be joined together with an offset in the direction of the joint and then moved horizontally into the correct position in the direction of the joint.

Task and solution

The object of the invention is to provide a floor board system which creates a connection between the adjacent floor boards in all directions, i.e. horizontally across and along the joint, and in the vertical direction, the connection system having a connector which connects the floor boards in addition to it Function allows a flexible and uneven support on the surface.

This object is achieved according to the invention in a floor board system of the type mentioned at the outset in that there are recesses at least on the long sides, into which the projections extend positive locking of the vertical position of the adjoining floorboards and that the flexible connector has at least one gripping element for securing the horizontal position in the transverse direction of the adjoining floorboards, which when one of the floorboards is attached to the other floorboard at an insertion angle and by swiveling into an aligned position of the floorboards Floor board attacks at least one of the floor boards.

The invention includes a connection system with a flexible connector, which has a double function, namely on the one hand to secure the floorboards to each other in a form-fitting manner according to all relevant degrees of freedom and on the other hand to form supports which are supported on the subsurface, can compensate for unevenness in the subsurface and ensure that the rigid floorboards between the connectors have a floor clearance. The floor boards can be self-supporting between these. The system therefore places fewer demands on the subsurface and is still flexible and easy to install.

According to the invention, different projections are arranged on both longitudinal sides of the floor boards, for example receiving projections designed on one of the longitudinal sides for receiving the connector and engaging projections on the opposite side for engaging in the recesses. The connectors can either be attached to the receiving protrusions during installation and inserted with a protrusion in a recess in the receiving protrusion, or this can be done at the factory. Different designs are also possible for attaching the connector to the floor board, for example an undercut profile for insertion in the manner of a dovetail or a cavity on the connector, into which the receiving projection engages and is secured as in a flexible shoe. Further features are defined in the subclaims.

In order to either allow the floor boards to be laid without spacing from each other (zero joint) or with a spacing joint, either differently dimensioned connectors can be used or alternative securing positions can already be provided on the floor boards and / or the connectors, which the two (or define several) gap distances, e.g. Gripping bars on the underside of the engagement projections, which can optionally engage in recesses on the connector which are spaced apart from one another.

An advantageous embodiment not belonging to the claimed invention has a connector which has a flexible body with a support surface on its underside, lateral, upward-facing gripping elements provided for engagement on the longitudinal sides of the floor boards and with engagement projections projecting laterally on a central web, which are designed to engage in the laterally open recesses of the floorboards to be connected. They are advantageous due to the rounding, beveling and their flexibility, when swiveling into their aligned end position, to ensure both the engagement of the engaging projections in the recesses and the positive engagement of the gripping elements to ensure the cohesion of the base plates, for example in Form of side webs that attack the inside of the long sides from below.

The dimensions of the recesses in the longitudinal direction of the joints in the longitudinal sides and the corresponding dimensions of the connector are matched to one another, so that there is also a positive connection in this direction. In the embodiment described above, it is advantageous that the connector has the same profile in the longitudinal direction of the joint, so that it can also be produced as a section of a bar profile.

When assembling the floor boards, a connection is not possible on all sides by swiveling in the following floor board, for example between the end faces if the swivel connection has been made between the long sides, even with a connection between one Face and one long side with floorboards laid at an angle to each other. Here, in addition to and completion of the floor board system, a connector is advantageous which can be pressed into the joint from below into the joint between the adjacent sides of two floor boards or can be brought into engagement by a vertical parallel displacement parallel to the joint. It has barbed engagement projections. These can have latch-like elements in the recesses on the sides on the central web of the connector. This connector can be attached to one side of a floor board from below and then the other floor board can be attached and pressed down from above, pushing back the latch-like resilient engagement projection until it engages in the recess on this floor board. However, it is also possible to provide this connector, for example, in addition to the swivel-in connectors, or to connect floorboards entirely to this connector type, for example by pushing the connector in from below.

All of these connections have significant advantages. The floorboards do not lie on the substrate over their entire length and width, but at precisely defined locations, namely the support surfaces of the connectors. If elastic storage and even better adaptation to the surface are desired, these can also be structured or ribbed. Production with different elasticity between the gripping area and the support area, for example by multi-component injection molding or continuous casting, is also possible. In all versions, the connection between the floorboards is strengthened by a load, i.e. walking on, even without this there is a secure connection in all relevant degrees of freedom. Unevenness in the subsurface is less disturbing for a level installation of the floor board system, because there is a gap between the undersides and the subsurface, which is also used to remove penetrated moisture or to lay cables, etc.

The floorboards are made in particular from plastic injection molding, for example from plastic reinforced and / or filled with natural fibers, that is to say fiber composite (NFK), on the basis of polyolefin, epoxy, polyester, phenolic or polyamide. For their stiffness and also to create channels under their surface, which is preferably provided with a non-slip structure, they are ribbed in the longitudinal and transverse directions. This means that they are so rigid that they can only withstand the desired loads at their end points without significant deformation. They are also weatherproof and easy to clean, making them particularly suitable for patios and balconies. Laying can be done in different patterns and, since numerous connection options (recesses and / or projections) are available on all sides at relatively short intervals, it is also possible to adapt the covering to the structural conditions by shortening the floor boards.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig. 1

eine Draufsicht auf eine erfindungsgemäße Bodendiele,

Fig. 2

eine Unteransicht der Bodendiele,

Fig. 3

eine Schrägansicht der Bodendiele von unten,

Fig. 4

eine Perspektive eines erfindungsgemäßen Verbinders,

Fig. 5

eine Draufsicht auf Details zweier Bodendielen vor ihrer Verbindung.

Fig. 6a

einen Schnitt nach der Linie VI-VI in Fig. 5 beim schrägen Ansetzen einer Bodendiele zur Verbindung mit einer auf dem Untergrund aufliegenden Bodendiele,

Fig. 6 b

ebenfalls einen Schnitt nach der Linie VI-VI in Fig. 5 nach der Fertigstellung der Verbindung,

Fig. 7a und 7b

Darstellungen entsprechend Fig. 6a und 6b,, jedoch nach der Schnittlinie VII-VII in Fig.5,

Figuren 8 bis 10

verschiedene Verlegemuster von Bodendielen in Draufsicht,

Fig. 11

eine Perspektive eines Details einer Verbindung zwischen Aufnahmevorsprung und Verbinder,

Fig. 12

eine Perspektive eines Verbinders für eine andere Verbindung Aufnahmevorsprung/Verbinder,

Fig. 13

eine Darstellung ähnlich Fig. 11 mit dem Verbinder nach Fig. 12,

Fig. 14

einen Schnitt nach Linie XIV-XIV,

Fig. 15

eine perspektivische Unteransicht eines Details einer Bodendiele mit einem alternativen Eingreifvorsprung,

Fig. 16

eine Perspektive eines Verbinders für die Alternative nach Fig. 15,

Fig. 17

ein Detail des Verbinders nach Fig. 16, an einem Aufnahmevorsprung der Bodendiele angebracht,

Fig. 18

einen Querschnitt durch einen Verbinder einer vorteilhaften Ausführungsform, die nicht zur beanspruchten Erfindung gehört,

Fig. 19

ein Schnitt durch zwei Bodendielen und den Verbinder nach Fig.18 während des Verbindungs-Vorgangs,

Fig. 20

einen Schnitt entsprechend Fig. 19 nach Fertigstellung der Verbindung,

Fig. 21

eine geschnittene Schrägansicht eines Details zweier gemäß Fig. 20 verbundener Bodendielen auf die Unterseite gesehen,

Fig. 22

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Verbinders für eine fugenlose Verbindung, wobei der Verbinder nicht zur beanspruchten Erfindung gehört,

Fig. 23

eine perspektivische Draufsicht auf eine Bodendiele, wie sie in Fig. 19 bis 21 gezeigt ist,

Fig. 24

einen Schnittdurch zwei mit einem Verbinder nach Fig. 22 verbundene Bodendielen,

Fig. 25

eine Darstellung entsprechend Fig. 21 einer Verbindung nach Fig. 24,

Fig. 26

eine Unteransicht eines Verlegemusters unter Verwendung von Verbindern gemäß Fig. 22 und 27 bzw. 32,

Fig. 27

eine Frontansicht eines Einschnapp-Verbinders für eine "Null-Fugen"-Verbindung,

Fig. 28

eine perspektivische Ansicht des Verbinders nach Fig. 27,

Fig. 29

eine Perspektive eines Details des Verbinders nach Fig. 27 und 28 nach vorbereitender Anbringung an einer Bodendiele,

Fig. 30

eine Schnitt-Darstellung zweier Bodendielen und eines Einschnapp-Verbinders während des Verbindungsvorganges,

Fig. 31

die Verbindung nach Fig. 30 nach ihrer Fertigstellung,

Fig. 32

eine Frontansicht eines Verbinders für eine Verbindung mit definierter Abstands-Fuge, wobei der Verbinder nicht zur beanspruchten Erfindung gehört,

Fig. 33

eine perspektivische Ansicht des Verbinders nach Fig. 32,

Fig. 34

eine Darstellung entsprechend Fig. 29 mit dem Verbinder nach Fig. 32 und 33,

Fig. 35

ein Detail einer Verbindung zweier Bodendielen mit dem Verbinder nach Fig. 32 und 33,

Fig. 36

einen Verbinder zum Zusammenwirken mit einem Eingreifvorsprung nach Fig. 15,

Fig. 37

einen Querschnitt nach der Linie XXXVII-XXXVII in Fig. 38 durch die Verbindung mit einem Verbinder gemäß Fig. 36 und

Fig. 38

eine Unteransicht zweier mit dem Verbinder nach Fig. 36 verbundener Bodendielen.

An embodiment of the invention is shown schematically in some of the drawings and is explained in more detail below. Show it:

Fig. 1

a plan view of a floor board according to the invention,

Fig. 2

a bottom view of the floor board,

Fig. 3

an oblique view of the floor board from below,

Fig. 4

a perspective of a connector according to the invention,

Fig. 5

a plan view of details of two floorboards before their connection.

Fig. 6a

a section along the line VI-VI in Fig. 5 when sloping a floor board for connection to a floor board lying on the ground,

Fig. 6 b

also a section along the line VI-VI in Fig. 5 after the connection is completed,

7a and 7b

Representations accordingly 6a and 6b ,, but according to section line VII-VII in Fig. 5 ,

Figures 8 to 10

different laying patterns of floorboards in top view,

Fig. 11

a perspective of a detail of a connection between the receiving projection and the connector,

Fig. 12

a perspective of a connector for another connection receiving projection / connector,

Fig. 13

a representation similar Fig. 11 with the connector Fig. 12 ,

Fig. 14

a cut according to line XIV-XIV,

Fig. 15

3 shows a perspective bottom view of a detail of a floor board with an alternative engagement projection,

Fig. 16

a perspective of a connector for the alternative after Fig. 15 ,

Fig. 17

a detail of the connector after Fig. 16 , attached to a projection of the floor board,

Fig. 18

3 shows a cross section through a connector of an advantageous embodiment which is not part of the claimed invention,

Fig. 19

a cut through two floor boards and the connector Fig. 18 during the connection process,

Fig. 20

a cut accordingly Fig. 19 after completion of the connection,

Fig. 21

a sectional oblique view of a detail according to two Fig. 20 connected floorboards seen on the underside,

Fig. 22

2 shows a perspective view of a connector for a seamless connection, the connector not belonging to the claimed invention,

Fig. 23

a perspective top view of a floor board, as in 19 to 21 is shown

Fig. 24

a section through two with a connector Fig. 22 connected floorboards,

Fig. 25

a representation accordingly Fig. 21 a connection Fig. 24 ,

Fig. 26

a bottom view of an installation pattern using connectors according to Fig. 22 and 27 or 32,

Fig. 27

2 shows a front view of a snap-in connector for a “zero-joint” connection,

Fig. 28

a perspective view of the connector Fig. 27 ,

Fig. 29

a perspective of a detail of the connector after 27 and 28 after preparatory installation on a floor board,

Fig. 30

a sectional view of two floorboards and a snap-in connector during the connection process,

Fig. 31

the connection after Fig. 30 after its completion,

Fig. 32

2 shows a front view of a connector for a connection with a defined spacing joint, the connector not belonging to the claimed invention,

Fig. 33

a perspective view of the connector Fig. 32 ,

Fig. 34

a representation accordingly Fig. 29 with the connector 32 and 33 ,

Fig. 35

a detail of a connection of two floorboards with the connector 32 and 33 ,

Fig. 36

a connector to mate with an engaging tab Fig. 15 ,

Fig. 37

a cross section along the line XXXVII-XXXVII in Fig. 38 by connecting with a connector according to Fig. 36 and

Fig. 38

a bottom view of two with the connector after Fig. 36 connected floorboards.

Description of preferred embodiments

Fig. 1 shows a floor board 11, which is made by injection molding from a natural fiber composite (NFK). Plastics such as polyolefins, epoxy, polyester, phenol or polyamide, which are filled with natural fibers and are therefore reinforced, are particularly suitable for this purpose. The floor board has an upper side 12 which is provided with a non-slip structure such as structured longitudinal ribs 13. It is delimited by sides or side walls, namely longitudinal sides 14, 15 and end faces 16, which, as from Fig. 3 can be seen, the floor board 11 surrounded. The floor board thus has a flat, box-like shape, the inside, i.e. its underside, of which has continuous longitudinal ribs 17, 18, of which the longitudinal ribs 17 extend to the same level as the sides 14 to 16, while lower longitudinal ribs 18 run in between. Cross ribs are provided at their level, which also stiffen the floor board in the transverse direction. Between the ribs 17, 18 channels 19 are formed, in which cables, lines, etc. can run. In combination with the relatively hard material, this creates a design-resistant floor board that is resistant to bending and breaking and is nevertheless inexpensive to manufacture from ecologically advantageous material.

In the in the Figures 1 to 14 The exemplary embodiments shown have the sides 14, 15, 16 recesses 20, here formed as cutouts which are open towards the lower edge 21 of the sides. On the long side 14 project horizontally receiving projections 22, which are designed as flat tongues, the top of which is at the level of the cutout upper edges. You have in the middle a recess 23 in the form of a through hole with a countersink 24 on the top. To this end, two complementary engaging protrusions 25 are provided on the opposite longitudinal side 15, the upper side of which is also at the level of the cutout upper edges, while the lower side is at the level of the lower side edges 21. The receiving projections 22 and the engaging projections 25 are each flanked by two recesses 20 on the long sides. The engaging protrusions 25 are narrower than that Receiving projections 22. Apart from the areas near the end faces 16, the engaging projections 25 are each arranged in pairs in such a way that they lie opposite the receiving projections 22, that is, when two floor boards are joined together, they can engage next to the receiving projections on both sides. In each case, viewed in the longitudinal direction of the floor board, a plurality of groups of a pair of engagement projections 25 with an opposite receiving projection are provided at a distance from one another, with two groups at a smaller distance from one another being provided in the middle.

This constellation is such that when two floor boards are joined together, each with a long side 14 adjacent to a long side 15, a connection with a joint with a theoretical width of zero, hereinafter referred to as "zero joint", would result, in which the floor boards over their entire length lies on the ground. Here, each time before the adjacent floor board was attached, the previous one could be screwed onto the subsurface via the recesses 23 in the receiving projections 22. The result is a positioning secured horizontally in the longitudinal direction and vertically against lifting, but in the transverse direction only by screwing on. In such a case, the subsurface should also be very level, because even a slight increase, e.g. lies in the middle of a floor board, would cause an unstable position.

The following embodiments make it possible to avoid these restrictions. This shows Fig. 4 a connector 30 made of a flexible material, a plastic injection molding material with rubber-like properties, in the form of a plate-shaped body with an underside 31 forming a support surface 31, a protruding nub forming a projection 32 for engaging in the recess 23 in the receiving projection, with one likewise upwardly projecting support web 33 on one longitudinal side 28, and with securing projections 34 projecting upward on the opposite longitudinal side 37 in the region of the corners, which serve as securing elements to be explained later. Between these Projections 34, a gap 35 is formed. The support web 33 has on its inner side 39 a projection 40 which, when the connector and receiving projection 22 are joined together, fits into a recess at the foot of the receiving projection and additionally secures the connector to the projection 32 (knob) against being pulled off in the transverse direction. In the plate-shaped body of the connector 30, oblique insertion recesses 38 are formed adjacent to the two transverse sides 36. For the details of the design and dimensioning of the connectors 30 and other elements of the floor board system, reference is expressly made to the drawings.

Fig. 5 shows a detail of two floor boards 11 before their connection to the floor board system 10 in plan view. At the receiving projection 22 projecting from the longitudinal side 14 of the left floor board 11, the connector 30 is shown from the underside Fig. 4 attached, its projection 34 or knob engages in the recess 23 and due to its flexibility fixes the connector 30 on the receiving projection 22. For this purpose, the head of the knob can be somewhat thickened and / or bevelled like a barb and fit into the countersink 24. The support web engages behind the side wall 14. The attachment of the connector 30 to the receiving projections 22 can already be done in the factory, with other fastening options such as gluing, welding, two-component spraying or the like. possible are. The connectors 30 can, however, also be attached only immediately before the floor boards are joined, the user being able to load all or some of the receiving projections with connectors, depending on the requirements or the nature of the subsurface. In addition, he can then choose whether to use connectors for laying with a joint 46 with a defined distance between the sides of the floor boards, hereinafter referred to as a spacing joint, or with a "zero joint". This increases flexibility and reduces the types to be kept on the market.

The in the Figures 6a, b and 7a, b shown sections according to section lines VI and VII in Fig. 5 show two phases of assembly two floorboards. The receiving projection 22 of the in Fig. 5 the left floor board is provided with the connector 30 in the manner described, it being evident that the projection 32 (nub) has a thickened and somewhat barb-shaped head 39 which fits into the countersink 34 and thus the connector 30 on the receiving projection 22 secures. The right floor board is brought in at an insertion angle α such that, as from Fig. 7a it can be seen that the engaging projection 25 penetrates into the space 58, which the recess 20 and the insertion recess 38 form between them, when the right floor boards are pushed in the insertion direction (arrow) onto or into the left floor board. The engaging projection 25 slides with its underside over the securing projections 34, supported by the insertion slope 42 (see Fig. 4 ). The size of the insertion angle α depends on the dimensions of the floorboards and in particular the connector 30, there mainly the height of the securing projections 34 and will be between 10 ° and 30 °. In the present example it is around 20 °. If the engaging projection 25 has penetrated into the insertion recess 38 to the end, then the inner edge 43 of the engaging projection 25 provided with a central projection 44 comes free from the top of the securing projection 34 and can engage in front of it ( Fig. 7b ). The central projection 44 engages in the recess 45, which interrupts the insertion bevel 42 of the securing projections in the middle (see also Fig. 4 ). It also secures the connection in the direction parallel to the joint 50 which is formed between the two floor boards 11. The existence and size of this joint is determined by the dimensions of the connector 30, mainly by the position of the projection 32. In the Figures 6a to 7b a dimension of the connector 30 is shown, which creates a spacing gap of, for example, 5 mm, an offset of the projection 32 and corresponding dimension of the support web 33 would result in a “zero gap”.

It can be seen that this connection system has a multiple function. It rests the floorboards at a distance 48 elastically with the support surface 31 of the flexible connector 30 on the substrate 47 and secures the connection of the floor boards 11 both in the transverse direction and in the longitudinal direction of the joints and in the vertical direction, that is to say against lifting off. The connection in the transverse direction is established in that, like the Figures 6a and 6b show, the support web 33 and its projection 40 engage behind the inner edge 49 of the side wall 14 of the left floor board 11, while the inner edge 43 of the side wall 15 of the right floor board 11 is engaged by the safety projections 34. The connector 30 thus forms a flexible clamp that grips both floorboards from below and is additionally secured by an operating load from above. The connection in the vertical direction is also elastic, because the engagement projection 25 lies on the inner surface 51 of the flexible connector 30.

The Figures 8 to 10 show different laying patterns of floor boards 11, and that side by side without offset ( Fig. 8 ), offset by about a third ( Fig. 9 ) and at an angle to each other ( Fig. 10 ). The arrangement of the receiving and engaging protrusions 22, 25 allow this and a large number of other variations of the laying. The connection of the long sides to the end faces cannot take place in the manner described by pivoting in if a connection is made between the long sides at the same time. Connection systems that make this possible are described below.

Fig. 11 shows a variant of the connection between the receiving projection 22 and the connector 30, in which the receiving projections 22 are divided into two and are internally tapered so that the dovetail-shaped projection 32 on the connector 30 forms a dovetail connection with the receiving projections.

The Figures 12 to 14 show a variant of the connector 30, which has a shoe 52 for receiving the receiving projection 22, which in this case need not have a hole 23. The shoe is designed as a flat rectangular compartment and has a stop bar on its upper side, which acts as a spacer 53 between the two long sides 14, 15 Definition, ie the joint width, the spacing joint 46 serves. Fig. 12 shows the connector in an oblique view and Fig. 13 after being attached to a floor board 11. Fig. 14 shows in section XIV-XIV that, due to the flexibility of the connector 30 on the receiving projection 22, the latter can be inserted into the shoe 52 like a foot, the supporting web 33 engaging behind the hook of the receiving projection and, as in the case of the dovetail design , the connector 30 defines the floor board 11. The side projections 54 on the connector 30 on both sides of the shoe 52 serve, as in the case of the dovetail design, as lateral guidance of the connector on the floor board. The connection to the adjacent floor board 11 is done in particular as in the Figures 6 and 7 shown, for simplification the insertion recesses 38 are not shown here or can also be omitted because of the flexibility of the connector.

The Figures 15 to 17 show a variant in which laying with zero joint and spacing joint is already provided. In this embodiment, the attachment of the connector 30 on the receiving projection 22 is as shown in FIG Figures 4 to 7 described. Also in Fig. 16 The characteristics of connector 30 shown in an oblique view are the same as that Fig. 4 , however, three grooves or incisions 55 are provided in the area of the insertion recesses 38 at the bottom thereof. Bar-shaped gripping webs 56, which protrude downward from the underside of the engagement projections 25, fit into them. If how Fig. 17 shows, the connector 30 is secured by snapping the knob 32 with its head 39 into the hole 23 and the countersink 24 on the receiving projection, which according to the Figures 1 to 7 equals, then the engaging protrusion 25 or, as not shown here, two engaging protrusions lying next to each other in pairs can be pivoted into the space 58. Depending on the desired installation with zero joint or spacing joint, the gripping webs 56 engage in the two front or rear grooves and thus determine the distance between the two floorboards. In this case, the rear securing projection 34 is not engaged in the "zero joint" version. Here you can with one Execution of the connector 30 different laying principles can be accomplished.

The Figures 18 to 25 show a preferred embodiment of the connection system, which does not belong to the claimed invention. In Fig. 22 is in oblique view and in Fig. 18 shown on average one connector 30 each for "zero joint" installation and installation with spacing joint. The connector made of flexible material has a profile that is constant over its length running in the direction of the joint, which also enables production from an extruded profile, and has a plate-shaped body 59 with an upper inner surface 51 and a lower support surface 31. This is the case in FIG Fig. 22 ribbed to increase the flexibility and adaptability to a flat surface and also to improve the position of the floor boards 30 on the surface. The flexibility in the area of the support surface 31, without letting the rest of the body become too soft, could also be achieved by different material properties in the injection molding or extrusion process, for example by 2-component injection molding.

Securing projections 34 project laterally upward from the body 59, the function of the supporting web 33 and the safety projections 34 according to the embodiment Fig. 4 correspond. On a central web 60, gripping elements 9 are provided in the form of engagement projections 25a projecting laterally from the central web, which have a rounded portion 62 on their underside. At Fig. 22 the top of the engaging protrusions 25a is flat so that the middle part of the connector 30 is T-shaped. With the connector 30 after Fig. 18 a spacer 53 in the form of a strip-shaped projection protrudes upward from the center of the two laterally extending engagement projections 25a, but is spaced considerably narrower than the central web 60.

Fig. 23 shows an oblique view of a floor board 11. It can be seen that the floor boards that are required for the designs according to the Figures 4 and for the executions after 18 to 22 are provided, have no gripping elements in the form of receiving and engaging projections, but only recesses 20, which are provided at uniform intervals over the long sides 14, 15 and end faces 16. This is a great advantage not only for the production, but also for storage and assembly, since the floor boards do not have to be brought into a specific orientation during installation. The recesses 20 (see in particular on Fig. 19 ) are provided on pages 14, 15, 16 and consist of horizontally aligned incisions or openings (see also Fig. 21 ). Between them and the lower edge 21 of the sides, these are set back somewhat, so that a space 61 is created for the central web 60.

Fi g. 19 now shows the joining of two floor boards 11. Although it would also be possible and useful the other way round, here the connector 30 has been attached to the right floor board 11 to be created before the connection. An engaging projection 25a engages in the recess 20 on the right floor board 11 and the securing projection 34 on this side engages behind the side wall 15. The connector 30 connected in this way to the right floor board 11 can now engage with its engaging projection 25a in the recess 20 in the left floor board 11 are pushed, which enables the fillet 62. The strip-shaped securing projection 34 on the left, when inserting the front side of the connector slides forward under the lower edge 21 of the side wall 14 of the left floor board until it engages behind the inner edge of the side wall 14 when pivoting down into the aligned position ( Fig. 20 ). A rounding 63 on the inner edge of the securing projections 34 also helps.

20 and 21 show the completed connection with spacing joint on average. It can be seen that the engaging projections 25a secure the floor boards 11 against vertical displacements, while the securing projections 34 hold the floor boards 11 together in the manner of a clamp against pulling apart. The spacer 53 on the top of the cruciform middle part of the connector 30 guarantees a uniform dimension of the spacing joint 46. How Fig. 21 shows, the connectors could be inserted into each of the numerous recesses 20 but this is not necessary. It can be seen that here, too, a load on the floor board system additionally strengthens and secures the connection and ensures a certain flexibility by the body 59 of the connector 30 between the floor boards and the substrate 47 being leveling and slightly flexible, and thus also sound-absorbing.

The Figures 24 and 25 show the Figures 20 and 21 corresponding representations for the "zero joint" version. The angular arrangement of Fig. 26 is also shown with connectors 30 on all possible connection points, ie recesses 20 of the floor boards 11, which is certainly only necessary or expedient in exceptional cases. As before Fig. 10 mentioned, the connections can be carried out by swiveling in such corner connections only if this happens about a swivel axis.

The Figures 27 to 35 show a connection system which does not belong to the claimed invention, in which the two floor boards 11 to be connected can be securely coupled to one another without pivoting in via the connector 30. Fig. 27 shows in cross section and Fig. 28 in an oblique view the connector for a "zero-joint" connection, which has a plate-shaped body 59 with a support surface 31 on its underside. On both sides of the body protruding protrusions 34 up, which are provided on their inner edge with a fillet 63. The connector 30 is also made of flexible material and has a profile that is constant over its length running in the direction of the joint, which also enables production from an extruded profile. A central web 60 protrudes upward from the inner surface 51 of the body 59. This is followed by a narrower web area 71, at the tip of which engaging projections 25b, which give the upper part of the central web an arrow-like shape. The engaging projections are barb-like, obliquely downwardly directed pawls which, under pressure from above, can contact or at least approach the central web in the narrower web area 71 which forms depressions 70 there.

Fig. 29 shows the attachment of the connector 30 to a floor board 11 as shown in FIG Fig. 23 is shown, ie with recesses 20 in the sides, which as slots engaging in the side wall of a longitudinal dimension matching the length of the connectors and with a recessed section 73 creating a space for the central web 60. A connector 30 is inserted into such a recess , being, as well Fig. 30 shows, the securing projection 34 engages behind the inner edge 49 of the side wall 15 and one of the engaging projections 25b rests with its front, ie lower end on the lower surface 74 of the recess 20. In this way, the in Fig. 30 left floor board 11 be prepared ( Fig. 29 ). This preparation is easy to do by the publisher, so it does not require any measures in production and sales.

Fig. 30 shows the process of connection. The right floor board 11 is inserted in the same orientation as the left floor board 11, which is already supported on the substrate 47 by the connector 30 and its support surface 31, that is to say inserted horizontally from above, that is in the direction of the arrow 75 provided and outer edge of the side wall in the gap 67 between the securing projections 34 and the engaging projection 25b and pushes it back, whereby it can lie in the recess 70. Because the securing projection 34 already engages behind the inner edge 49 of the side wall, the right floor board is held in its sideways position and cannot be pushed back to the right by the sideways pressure exerted by the engaging projection 25b. For this it is important that the securing projections 34 protrude so high that the section 76 of the floor board 11 lying below the recess has already penetrated the gap 67 before the section 76 reaches the engaging projection 25b. When the portion 76 below the recess, with its upper edge, namely the lower surface 74 of the recess 20, has passed the outer end of the engaging projection 25b, the latter snaps back due to its flexibility and lies on the surface 74. In the case described above , not shown alternative design with engagement projections which are designed as a solid triangle, In addition to elastic compression of the engaging protrusions, the entire unit of both engaging protrusions is elastically bent somewhat to the left and possibly the securing protrusion 34 somewhat to the right, so that the section 76 of the side wall lying below the recess 20 fits into the central web between the inner surface 51, securing protrusion 34 60 and engaging projection 25b penetrates the space formed and remains secured there, as also in in Fig. 30 shown version. This inserting process is the same as that previously carried out when the connector 30 was attached to the left floor board, there by pressing the connector 30 into the gap 67 from below. The completed connection, here with "zero joint", is in Fig. 31 shown.

It can be seen that here a connection system was created that simply creates a secure connection with slot-shaped recesses in the sides of the floor boards 11 via flexible connectors 30 that can be pressed into the joint from below. The connector has a clip which engages behind both side walls and a shaft which can be pushed into the joint between the floor boards from below with the engagement projections which penetrate into recesses on the side walls of the floor boards and hold there.

The Figures 32 to 35 show an embodiment for a defined spacing joint 46. In the rest of the same design and function, the middle web 60 or shaft here is also not provided with the arrow-like or barb-like protruding engagement projections 25b and, in addition, with an upper extension serving as a spacer 53, the extension thereof Thickness determines the joint width. Otherwise, the individual features and the connection function are the same as on the basis of 27 to 31 described.

The Figures 36 to 38 show a simplified embodiment of the embodiment of the Figures 15 to 17 . Out Fig. 36 It can be seen that the connector 30 has a substantially flat body 59, not recessed obliquely to insertion recesses, but in its flat inner surface 51 the three grooves 55 are formed. The support web 33 and the securing projections 34 are designed as continuous webs. 37 and 38 show in cross section and in a view from below the connection of two floorboards with the connector 30 Fig. 36 . The floorboards have a receiving projection 22, as in Fig. 17 is shown and an engaging projection 25 with two gripping bars 56 as in FIG Fig. 15 shown. Fig. 37 shows the connection with "zero joint" in a section along the line XXXVII in Fig. 38 . In this case, the gripping webs 56 engage in the grooves 51 closer to the supporting web 33. You could also insert them in the two grooves further away and would create a connection with a spacing joint. If additional grooves are arranged or one of the gripping bars is omitted, apart from the zero joint, different joint widths of spacing joints could also be achieved. The insertion of the engaging protrusion 25 is made possible by the flexibility of the connector 30.

Fig. 38 shows the connector 30 in a transparent view. It can be seen that only one engagement projection 25 is used here, which further increases the flexibility of the system arrangement. <b> List of reference symbols </b> Insertion angle α bottom 8th Gripping elements 9 Floor board system 10th Floor board 11 Top 12th Longitudinal ribs 13 Long sides 14.15 End faces 16 Longitudinal ribs 17, 18 Cross ribs 18a channels 19th Recesses 20th Lower edge 21 Admission tabs 22 Recess (hole) 23 Countersink 24th Engaging tabs 25, 25a, 25b Long side 28 Interconnects 30th Support surface 31 Projection (nub) 32 Landing stage 33 Locking tabs 34 gap 35 Cross pages 36 Long side 37 Introductory wells 38 Head of 32 39 Chamfer 42 Inside edge 43 Middle lead 44 deepening 45 Gap 46 Underground 47 distance 48 Inside edge 49 Inner surface 51 shoe 52 Spacers 53 Tabs 54 Incisions 55 Gripping bars 56 room 58 body 59 Mittelsteg 60 room 61 Rounding off 62 Fillet 63 Rounding off 65 gap 67 Indentations 70 Dock area 71 section 73 surface 74 arrow 75 section 76

Claims (11)

1. A floorboard system (10) with floorboards (11) of dimensionally stable material, which have an upper side (12), an underside (8), as well as faces that encompass this upper side and underside, namely longitudinal faces and end faces (14, 15, 16),
   with a connecting system comprising interengaging projections and recesses (20) for connecting floorboards (11) bordering on one another,
   wherein the connecting system comprises a connector (30) of a flexible material, which has a supporting surface (31) that in the installed state of the floorboard system protrudes over the underside (8) of the floorboards (11) and serves for flexibly supporting the floorboard system on a substructure (47),
   wherein recesses (20) are provided at least in the longitudinal faces (14, 15) of the floorboards (11) and the projections (22, 25) of an adjacent floorboard (11) engage into said recesses in order to positively secure the vertical position of the floorboards (11) bordering on one another,
   wherein the flexible connector (30) comprises at least one gripping element (34) for securing the horizontal position in the transverse direction of the floorboards (11) bordering on one another, with said gripping element engaging on at least one of the floorboards when a floorboard is attached to another floorboard at an insertion angle (α) and pivoted into an aligned position of the floorboard, and
   wherein the projections (22, 25), which are provided on the floorboards (11) so as to protrude in the region of the longitudinal faces (14, 15), have the following characteristics:

   receptacle projections (22) designed for receiving the connector (30) are arranged on one of the longitudinal faces (14) of the floorboard (11) and engagement projections (25) for engaging into the recesses (20) of an adjacent floorboard (11) are arranged on the opposite longitudinal face (15),

   characterized in that the engagement projections (25) are arranged adjacent to one another in pairs and leave space for a respective receptacle projection (22) of one of the adjacent floorboards (11) between one another, and in that

   the flexible connector (30) comprises a receptacle for one of the receptacle projections (22) and for the attachment thereon has at least one of the following characteristics:

   1.1 a projection (32) for engaging into a recess (23) of the receptacle projection (22),

   1.2 an undercut profiling for sliding the connector on the receptacle recess (22) like a dovetail,

   1.3 a cavity (52), into which the receptacle projection (22) engages and in which it is secured against removal with a securing element in each of alternatives 1.1, 1.2 or 1.3.
2. The floorboard system according to claim 1, characterized in that the connector (30) engages underneath two adjacent floorboards (11) and at least one of the engagement projections (25) and comprises in the region of the engagement projections of an adjacent floorboard insertion depressions (38) and/or additional securing elements for securing the horizontal distance between assembled floorboards in the transverse direction.
3. The floorboard system according to claim 2, characterized in that the connector has a planar body (59) with its supporting surface (31) on its underside, with insertion depressions (38) for receiving and inserting the engagement projections (25) on its upper side, a supporting web (33) on one side and at least one projection (34), which protrudes from the upper side, is provided with an insertion bevel (42) and forms the additional securing element.
4. The floorboard system according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the engagement projections (25) of one floorboard (11) can be inserted into chambers, which are formed between the recesses (20) that are open toward the underside (8) of the other floorboard and the upper side of the connector (30) that is connected to the receptacle projection (22) of this other floorboard, at an insertion angle (α) in order to assemble two floorboards (11), wherein securing surfaces on the engagement projections (25) engage with the connector (30) after pivoting into the aligned position.
5. The floorboard system according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the engagement projections (25) have on their underside one or more gripping webs (56), which engage into recesses of the connector (30) .
6. The floorboard system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connector (30) comprises spacer elements (53), which allow an installation of the floorboards with a predefined gap (46) between one another.
7. The floorboard system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the supporting surface (31) of the connector (30) has a structuring or profiling.
8. The floorboard system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an additional connector (30) is provided, wherein said additional connector can be pressed into the gap (46) between the adjacent faces (14, 15, 16) of two floorboards (11) from the underside (8) and comprises engagement projections (25b) that act like barbs.
9. The floorboard system according to claim 8, characterized in that the engagement projections (25b) are realized in the form of elements on a central web (60) of the connector (30), which snap into the recesses (20) on the faces like pawls.
10. The floorboard system according to one of claims 8 or 9, characterized in that at least one side of the floorboard (11) engages into a gap (67) between an engagement projection (25b) and a gripping element (9) of the additional connector (30) while pushing back the engagement projection.
11. The floorboard system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized that the floorboards (11) consist of injection-molded plastic and have at least one of the following characteristics:

    11.1 they consist of a composite material (NFP) containing a filler such as natural fibers,

    11.2 they have a ribbed, non-skid surface on the upper side (12),

    11.3 the underside (8) is provided with a longitudinal and transverse ribs (13, 18a),

    11.4 channels (19) for the installation of cables, etc., are provided between the ribs,

    11.5 they are self-supporting between the supporting surfaces (31) of the connector (30).

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