Classifications

• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04F—FINISHING WORK ON BUILDINGS, e.g. STAIRS, FLOORS
  • E04F13/00—Coverings or linings, e.g. for walls or ceilings
  • E04F13/07—Coverings or linings, e.g. for walls or ceilings composed of covering or lining elements; Sub-structures therefor; Fastening means therefor
  • E04F13/08—Coverings or linings, e.g. for walls or ceilings composed of covering or lining elements; Sub-structures therefor; Fastening means therefor composed of a plurality of similar covering or lining elements
  • E04F13/0889—Coverings or linings, e.g. for walls or ceilings composed of covering or lining elements; Sub-structures therefor; Fastening means therefor composed of a plurality of similar covering or lining elements characterised by the joints between neighbouring elements, e.g. with joint fillings or with tongue and groove connections
  • E04F13/0894—Coverings or linings, e.g. for walls or ceilings composed of covering or lining elements; Sub-structures therefor; Fastening means therefor composed of a plurality of similar covering or lining elements characterised by the joints between neighbouring elements, e.g. with joint fillings or with tongue and groove connections with tongue and groove connections
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04F—FINISHING WORK ON BUILDINGS, e.g. STAIRS, FLOORS
  • E04F13/00—Coverings or linings, e.g. for walls or ceilings
  • E04F13/07—Coverings or linings, e.g. for walls or ceilings composed of covering or lining elements; Sub-structures therefor; Fastening means therefor
  • E04F13/08—Coverings or linings, e.g. for walls or ceilings composed of covering or lining elements; Sub-structures therefor; Fastening means therefor composed of a plurality of similar covering or lining elements
  • E04F13/16—Coverings or linings, e.g. for walls or ceilings composed of covering or lining elements; Sub-structures therefor; Fastening means therefor composed of a plurality of similar covering or lining elements of fibres or chips, e.g. bonded with synthetic resins, or with an outer layer of fibres or chips
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04F—FINISHING WORK ON BUILDINGS, e.g. STAIRS, FLOORS
  • E04F13/00—Coverings or linings, e.g. for walls or ceilings
  • E04F13/07—Coverings or linings, e.g. for walls or ceilings composed of covering or lining elements; Sub-structures therefor; Fastening means therefor
  • E04F13/08—Coverings or linings, e.g. for walls or ceilings composed of covering or lining elements; Sub-structures therefor; Fastening means therefor composed of a plurality of similar covering or lining elements
  • E04F13/18—Coverings or linings, e.g. for walls or ceilings composed of covering or lining elements; Sub-structures therefor; Fastening means therefor composed of a plurality of similar covering or lining elements of organic plastics with or without reinforcements or filling materials or with an outer layer of organic plastics with or without reinforcements or filling materials; plastic tiles
• • 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
  • E04F15/102—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 fibrous or chipped materials, e.g. bonded with synthetic resins
• • 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
  • 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
  • E04F15/107—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 composed of several layers, e.g. sandwich panels
• • 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
  • E04F2201/0138—Joining sheets, plates or panels with edges in abutting relationship by moving the sheets, plates or panels perpendicular to the main plane
• • 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

Definitions

• the present invention relates to the field of floor or wall coverings, and more particularly relates to a covering panel, for example a slab or a strip, comprising coupling means with increased resistance to horizontal/vertical disassembly.
• the invention applies to floor or wall covering panels, of which at least two sides are assembled by rotation of one panel relative to the other around an axis parallel to the assembled sides.
• the lower coupling means comprise at least one lower groove formed from an upper face of the panel, and extending parallel to and along the first side so as to define a lower tongue extending end of the edge of the panel towards the upper face of said panel.
• the upper coupling means comprise at least one upper groove formed from an underside of the panel, and extending parallel to and along the second side so as to define an upper tongue extending at the end of the edge of the panel towards the underside of said panel.
• the upper and lower coupling means are complementary so that the upper tongue and the upper groove of a panel are intended to engage with the lower groove and the lower tongue on one side of an adjacent panel, and according to an assembly kinematics by rotation around an axis parallel to the assembled sides.
• the disadvantage of this type of panel is that the coupling means are not robust enough to withstand a minimum passage of 25,000 cycles of a wheeled chair as defined in ISO 4918 or NF EN 425. In particular, the coupling means disengage and do not allow the standard to be met.
• One of the aims of the invention is therefore to improve the resistance to disengagement of the coupling means being assembled by pivoting of a panel with respect to an adjacent panel around an axis of rotation parallel to the assembled sides, in particular to withstand the passage of a minimum of 25,000 cycles for a chair on wheels as defined in the ISO 4918 or NF EN 425 standard.
• the invention also aims, in general, to obtain a panel comprising coupling means having better mechanical characteristics (vertical resistance, horizontal resistance, resistance to bending, etc.).
• a floor or wall covering panel comprising at least a first side comprising upper coupling means, and a second side, parallel and opposite, comprising coupling means lower.
• the lower coupling means comprise at least one lower groove formed from an upper face of the panel, and extending parallel and along the first side so as to define a lower tongue extending at the end of the edge from the panel to the top face of the panel.
• the upper coupling means comprise at least one upper groove formed from an underside of the panel, and extending parallel and along the second side so as to define an upper tongue extending at the end of the edge of the panel towards the underside of said panel.
• the upper and lower coupling means are complementary so that the upper tongue and the upper groove of a first side of a panel are intended to engage with the lower groove and the lower tongue of one side on a second side of an adjacent panel according to an assembly kinematics by rotation around an axis parallel to the assembled sides.
• the lower tab has external and internal walls inclined with respect to a vertical plane towards the outside of the panel away from the underside of the panel;
• the upper groove has external and internal walls inclined with respect to a vertical plane towards the outside of the panel away from the upper face of the panel;
• the upper tongue has, at its free end, a lip projecting laterally towards the outside of the panel, so as to define an outer wall comprising an upper face on the side of the upper face of the panel, vertical or inclined with respect to a vertical plane towards the outside of the panel away from the upper face of the panel, and a lower face inclined at a greater angle than the upper face with respect to a vertical plane and towards the outside of the panel in s away from the upper face of the panel;
• the lower groove has a lateral recess so as to define an internal wall comprising an upper face on the side of the upper face of the panel, vertical or inclined with respect to a vertical plane towards the outside of the panel while moving away from the face bottom of the panel, and a lower face inclined at a greater angle than the upper face relative to a vertical plane and towards the outside of the panel away from the underside of the panel.
• the outer wall of the lower tab and the inner wall of the upper groove have complementary latching means.
• this configuration makes it possible to have, on the one hand, a first locking effect of the upper tongue in the lower groove, but also a second locking effect of the lower tongue in the upper groove. of the panel.
• This second latching effect located in a lower zone of the panel, makes it possible to improve the mechanical characteristics of the coupling means and in particular makes it possible to improve the resistance to disengagement of said coupling means, which resist better in horizontal traction this which makes it possible to satisfy the ISO 4918 or NF EN 425 standard relating to the wheel chair test.
• the latching means can be of the ergo/notch type formed respectively on the outer wall of the lower tab and on the inner wall of the upper groove.
• the outer wall of the lower tongue and the inner wall of the upper groove are stepped, so that the free end of the lower tongue and the bottom of the upper groove are widened to form the latching means as such.
• the stepped outer wall of the lower tongue and the stepped inner wall of the upper groove each comprise, for example, an upper face on the side of the upper face of the panel, an intermediate face and a lower face.
• the upper face of the stepped internal wall of the upper groove is inclined at an angle of between 5° and 45°, preferably between 20° and 45°, more preferably between 25° and 30°, and is parallel to the upper face of the stepped outer wall of the lower tongue, in order to optimize the resistance to vertical and horizontal disassembly.
• the upper face of the stepped outer wall of the lower tab is vertical or inclined at an angle of between 1° and 15°, preferably between 5° and 10°, towards the inside of the panel. moving away from the underside of the panel, in order to facilitate the assembly of the means coupling, in particular when bringing the lower tongue and the upper groove into contact in order to more easily initiate the rotational movement along an axis parallel to the edges of the panels.
• the size of the lower tongue is also limited, which makes it possible to reduce the quantity of chips generated during the machining of the assembly means.
• the upper face of the stepped internal wall of the upper groove is vertical or inclined at an angle of between 1° and 15°, preferably between 5° and 10°, towards the inside of the panel. moving away from the upper face of the panel, and more preferably parallel to the upper face of the stepped outer wall of the lower tongue, in order also to limit the size of the upper groove.
• the intermediate face of the stepped internal wall of the upper groove is more inclined than the upper face and the lower face, and is inclined at an angle of between 45° and 90°, preferably 60° towards the outside of the panel away from the upper face of the panel, and is parallel to the intermediate face of the stepped outer wall of the lower tab.
• the intermediate face of the stepped outer wall of the lower tongue and the intermediate face of the stepped inner wall of the upper groove measure between 0.3 and 2 mm, preferably between 0.4 and 1.5 mm, this in order to obtain a better resistance to the vertical unclipping of the system.
• the lower face of the stepped internal wall of the upper groove is parallel or less inclined towards the outside of the panel, moving away from the upper face of the panel, than the lower face of the stepped outer wall of the tongue. lower, and is inclined at an angle of between 5° and 45°, preferably between 20° and 45°, and more preferably between 25° and 30°.
• the lower face of the stepped outer wall of the lower tongue is parallel to or more inclined than the lower face of the stepped inner wall of the upper groove, and is also inclined at an angle between 5° and 45°, preferably between 20° and 45°, more preferably between 25° and 30°.
• the inner wall of the lower tongue is inclined at an angle of between 5° and 45°, preferably between 20° and 45°, more preferably between 25° and 30°, and is parallel to the outer wall of the upper groove, and this to optimize the resistance to vertical/horizontal disassembly.
• the upper face of the stepped outer wall of the lower tongue is parallel to the inner wall of the lower tongue.
• the upper face of the outer wall of the upper tongue is vertical or inclined at an angle of between 1° and 10°, preferably 5°, and is parallel to the upper face of the inner wall of the lower groove. .
• the lower face of the outer wall of the upper tab is, for its part, inclined at an angle of between 45° and 80°, preferably between 55° and 70°, and is parallel to the lower face of the wall internal of the lower groove.
• FIG. 1 is a cross-section of the twist-fit coupling means in an assembled position.
• FIG. 2 illustrates the twist-to-fit upper coupling means.
• FIG. 3 illustrates the twist-fit lower coupling means.
• FIG. 4 illustrates the assembly kinematics by rotation of the upper and lower coupling means.
• FIG. 5 illustrates the vertical disassembly of the lower and upper coupling means.
• FIG. 6 illustrates the horizontal disassembly of the lower and upper coupling means.
• FIG. 7 is a schematic representation of two panels according to the invention, with two opposite edges assembled at an angle by rotation about an axis parallel to said edges, and two opposite edges assembled vertically.
• FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view of a particular embodiment of the vertically joined edges of two panels being joined.
• FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional view similar to that of Figure 8, the two panels being assembled.
• FIG. 10 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the twist-fit lower coupling means.
• FIG. 11 illustrates a second alternative embodiment of the twist-fit lower coupling means.
• FIG.12 is a cross-section of an alternate, compact embodiment of the twist-fit coupling means in an assembled position.
• FIG.13 is a cross-section of an embodiment similar to that of Fig. 12 of the twist-fit coupling means in an assembled position.
• the invention relates to a panel (1) having the shape of a blade or slab for the production of a floor or wall covering, for example intended for freestanding.
• the panel (1) according to the invention has at least a first side comprising upper coupling means (2a) and a second, parallel and opposite side comprising lower coupling means (2b) intended to coupling with each other according to a kinematics by rotation around an axis parallel to said sides.
• the panel (1) comprises for example two other sides, adjacent to the first and second sides, parallel to each other and opposite, and comprising complementary male (6) and female (7) coupling means intended to couple according to a vertical kinematics, see figures 7 to 9.
• the panel (1) according to the invention is advantageous in that it has an optimal resistance to horizontal disassembly, that is to say for example greater than approximately 500N/10 cm, allowing it in particular to resist tests of the chair on casters according to the ISO 4918 or NF EN 425 standard.
• the panel (1) of the invention is preferably made of a plastic material, such as polyvinyl chloride, for example plasticized and rigid, and optionally comprising a mineral filler.
• a plastic material such as polyvinyl chloride, for example plasticized and rigid, and optionally comprising a mineral filler.
• the panel (1) can be obtained in any suitable plastic material.
• the panel (1) has a core bonded to a decorative layer consisting of a decorative film bonded to a transparent surface layer.
• the core can be monolayer or multilayer, and is made for example from plastic material such as polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, polyurethane, thermoplastic polyurethane, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, or any other suitable plastic material, and optionally comprising fillers in the form of fibres, shavings, dust or sawdust and/or mineral fillers, for example chalk, lime, talc, and one or more plasticizers in order to define the rigidity of the core.
• plastic material such as polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, polyurethane, thermoplastic polyurethane, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, or any other suitable plastic material, and optionally comprising fillers in the form of fibres, shavings, dust or sawdust and/or mineral fillers, for example chalk, lime, talc, and one or more plasticizers in order to define the rigidity of the
• the core may optionally be based on urea formaldehyde or melamine formaldehyde and wood, for example layers of medium density fibers (MDF) or high density fiber (HDF).
• MDF medium density fibers
• HDF high density fiber
• Each layer can also be a layer of laminated wood, wood composite (WPC “wood plastic composite” in English).
• WPC wood plastic composite
• Each layer can be compact or foamed, for example, the core can be made with a foamed layer of rigid polyvinyl chloride sandwiched between two layers of rigid and compact polyvinyl chloride.
• the assembly of this type of panel (1) is done in an inclined manner, for example at an angle between 10° and 50°, and according to a kinematics by rotation on a first edge around a axis parallel to said edge, and according to vertical kinematics on a second adjacent edge.
• the installer lays a first line of panels (1), assembling them side by side according to a vertical assembly kinematics. Then, the installer begins a second line of panels (1) by assembling a first panel (1), according to an inclined kinematics with respect to the panels (1) of the previous line.
• the following panels (1) of the second line are assembled according to an inclined kinematics with respect to the panels (1) of the previous line and, by a pivoting movement of the panel (1) in the direction of the floor or wall, the panel (1 ) is assembled to the adjacent panel (1) according to a vertical kinematics.
• the upper coupling means (2a) comprise, for their part and in a complementary manner, at least one upper groove (Rs) formed from an underside of the panel (1 ), extending parallel and along the second side so as to define an upper tongue (Ls) extending at the end of the edge of the panel (1) towards the underside of said panel (1).
• the lower coupling means (2b) comprise at least one lower groove (Ri) formed from an upper face of the panel (1), and extending parallel and along the first side so as to define a lower tongue (Li) extending at the end of the edge of the panel (1) towards the upper face of the panel (1).
• the upper (2a) and lower (2b) coupling means are complementary so that the upper tongue (Ls) and the upper groove (Rs) on a first side of the panel (1) are intended to engage with the lower groove (Ri) and the lower tongue (Li) of a second side of an adjacent panel (1), in particular according to the assembly kinematics by rotation about an axis parallel to said sides.
• the lower tongue (Li) has inner (F) and outer walls inclined with respect to a vertical plane towards the outside of the panel (1) away from the lower face of the panel (1)
• the upper groove (Rs) has outer (F') and inner walls inclined relative to a vertical plane towards the outside of the panel (1) away from the upper face of the panel ( 1 ).
• the internal wall (F) of the lower tab (Li) is inclined at an angle of between 5° and 45°, preferably between 20° and 45°, and preferably between 5° and 30°.
• the outer wall of the lower tongue (Li) has snap-fastening means (4) with the inner wall of the upper groove (Rs), which are for example stepped so that the free end of the lower tongue (Li) and the bottom of the upper groove (Rs) are widened to form said latching means (4).
• the stepped outer wall of the lower tongue (Li) and the stepped inner wall of the upper groove (Rs) each comprise an upper face (A, A') on the side of the upper face of the panel (1), a intermediate pan (B, B') and a lower pan (C, C').
• the upper face (A') of the stepped internal wall of the upper groove (Rs) is inclined at an angle of between 5° and 45°, preferably between 20° and 45°, and more preferably between 25° and 45°. ° and 30°, and is parallel to the upper face (A) of the stepped outer wall of the lower tongue (Li), to optimize resistance to vertical/horizontal disassembly of the lower (2b) and upper coupling means.
• the upper face (A) of the stepped outer wall of the lower tongue (Li) is vertical or inclined at an angle of between 1° and 15°, preferably between 5° and 10°, towards the inside of the panel (1) away from the underside of the panel (1), in order to facilitate the assembly of the coupling means (2a, 2b), in particular when bringing the lower tongue (Li) and the upper groove (Rs) into contact in order to more easily initiate the rotational movement along an axis parallel to the edges of the panels (1).
• the size of the lower tab (Li) is also limited, which makes it possible to reduce the quantity of chips generated during the machining of the assembly means.
• the upper face (A') of the stepped internal wall of the upper groove is vertical or inclined at an angle of between 1° and 15°, preferably between 5° and 10°, towards the inside the panel (1) away from the upper face of the panel (1), and more preferably parallel to the upper face (A) of the stepped outer wall of the lower tongue (Li), in order to also limit the size of the upper groove (Rs).
• the intermediate face (B') of the stepped internal wall of the upper groove (Rs) is more inclined than the upper face (A') and the lower face (C'), and is inclined at an angle between 45 ° and 90, preferably 60°, and is parallel to the intermediate face (B) of the stepped outer wall of the lower tab (Li).
• the intermediate face (B) of the stepped outer wall of the lower tongue and the intermediate face (B') of the stepped inner wall of the upper groove measure between 0.3 and 2 mm, preferably between 0. 4 and 1.5 mm in order to obtain better resistance to vertical unclipping of the system.
• the lower face (C') of the stepped internal wall of the upper groove (Rs) is parallel, or less inclined to facilitate engagement of the lower tab (Li), than the lower face (C) of the stepped outer wall of the lower tongue (Li), and is inclined at an angle between 5° and 45°, preferably between 20° and 45°, and more preferably between 25° and 30°, to optimize resistance to disassembly vertical/horizontal.
• the lower face (C) of the stepped outer wall of the lower tongue (Li) is, for its part, parallel or more inclined than the face.
• bottom (C') of the stepped internal wall of the upper groove (Rs) is inclined at an angle comprised between 5° and 45°, preferably between 20° and 45°, and more preferably between 25° and 30° .
• the upper face (A) of the lower tab (Li) is less inclined than the lower face (C) to facilitate machining.
• the upper tab (Ls) has, at its free end, a lip (5) projecting laterally and outwardly from the panel (1) so as to define an outer wall comprising an upper face (E') on the side of the upper face of the panel (1), vertical or inclined with respect to a vertical plane towards the outside of the panel (1) away from the upper face of the panel (1 ), and a lower face (G') inclined at a greater angle than the upper face (E') with respect to a vertical plane and towards the outside of the panel (1) away from the upper face of the panel (1).
• the lower groove (Ri) has a lateral recess (5a) towards the inside of the panel (1) so as to define an internal wall comprising an upper face (E) on the side of the upper face of the panel (1), vertical or inclined with respect to a vertical plane towards the outside of the panel (1) away from the underside of the panel (1), and a lower face (G) inclined at a greater angle important that the upper face (E) with respect to a vertical plane towards the outside of the panel (1) away from the underside of the panel (1).
• the upper face (E') of the outer wall of the upper tongue (Ls) is vertical or inclined at an angle of between 1° and 10°, preferably 5°, and is parallel to the upper face.
• the lower face (G') of the outer wall of the upper tongue (Ls) is, for its part, inclined at an angle of between 45° and 80°, preferably between 55° and 70°, and is parallel to the lower face (G) of the inner wall of the lower groove (Ri).
• the upper tongue (Ls) has a greater width, of 0.2 mm or less, compared to that of the lower groove (Ri), to obtain an assembly in force. After assembly, however, there remains a clearance between the upper faces (A, A') of the stepped walls of the lower tongue (Li) and of the upper groove (Rs) in order to allow assembly.
• the assembly kinematics is done with an inclined approach, and according to a kinematics by rotation around an axis parallel to the assembled sides.
• the upper tongue (Ls) comprises for example an end wall having a curved portion (8) intended to roll or pivot in the bottom of the lower groove (Ri) during assembly.
• the upper face (A) of the stepped outer wall of the lower tongue (Li) slides against the lower face (C') of the stepped inner wall of the upper groove (Rs).
• the distance taken between the upper edge of the upper face (E') of the outer wall of the upper tongue (Ls) and the upper edge of the outer wall (F') of the upper groove ( Rs), is identical to or slightly less than the distance taken between the same upper edge of the upper face (E') of the outer wall of the upper tongue (Ls) and the lower edge of the outer wall (F') of the groove higher (Rs), and this to ensure better locking of the assembly after assembly.
• the opposite edges with vertical assembly consist of an edge comprising male coupling means (6) formed from an underside of the panel (1), and an edge opposite comprising complementary female coupling means (7) formed from an upper face of the panel (1).
• the male coupling means (6) of the vertical assembly edges (3) comprise a male groove (6a) extending along the edge and opening onto the underside of the panel (1), so as to define a male tab (6b).
• the female coupling means (7) of the vertical assembly edges (3) comprise a female groove (7a) extending along the edge and opening onto the upper face of the panel (1) , so as to define a female tongue (7b).
• the male and female tabs (6b, 7b) comprise substantially rectangular cross-sections, and are flexible and elastically deformable to allow their engagement in the corresponding female and male grooves (6a, 7a).
• the male tab (6b) has an outer wall (6c) inclined with respect to a vertical plane and towards the outside of the panel (1), at an angle of between 1 and 45°, and preferably of between 5 and 15°.
• An inclination of the outer wall (6c) of between 5 and 15° makes it possible to obtain a good compromise between the ease of assembly of the panels (1) and the resistance to horizontal disassembly of the coupling means.
• the installer sees the female groove (7a) and can therefore easily position the outer wall (6c) of the male tongue (6b) in line with the female groove (7a) to begin assembly.
• the two panels (1) approach each other. This further facilitates the laying operation, and the machining constraints to have perfect contact on the surface of the panels (1) are also easier to comply with.
• the male tongue (6b) has an internal wall inclined with respect to a vertical plane and towards the outside or the inside of the panel (1).
• the male tongue (6b) has an internal wall inclined towards the outside of the panel (1), at an angle between 1 and 45° , and preferably between 5 and 15°.
• An inclination of the internal wall of the male tab (6b) of between 5 and 15° also makes it possible to obtain a good compromise between the ease of assembly of the panels (1) and the resistance to horizontal disassembly of the coupling means.
• the male tab (6b) has an inner wall inclined at the same angle as the outer wall (6c). This characteristic also makes it possible to facilitate the manufacture, and in particular the machining of the complementary male (6) and female (7) coupling means.
• the male coupling means (6) of the vertically assembled edges (3) comprise a lug (10) or a notch (11), and the female coupling means (7) edges with vertical assembly (3) comprise a notch (11) or a complementary lug (10) forming, after assembly of two adjacent panels (1), stops against vertical movement between two panels (1) adjacent assembled.
• the lug (10) or notch (11) is made on the outer wall of the male tongue (6b) and, in a complementary manner, the notch (11) or lug (10) is made ( e) on an internal wall of the female groove (7a).
• the lug (10) or notch (11) is formed on the outer wall of the female tab (7b) and, in a complementary manner, the notch (11) or lug (10) is formed on an inner wall of the male groove (6a).
• these two embodiments are combined so that the male coupling means (6) of the edges with vertical assembly (3) comprise two lugs (10) or notches (11), and the means of coupling females (7) of the vertical assembly edges (3) comprise two notches (11) or lugs (10) complementary.
• the male (6a) and female (7a) grooves each have an outer wall, that is to say positioned, not on the side of the body of the panel (1) , but on the side of the outside of the panel (1), intended to be in contact, after assembly of the two panels (1).
• the grooves (6a, 7a) and tongues (6b, 7b) have suitable widths and/or inclinations.
• the tongues (6b, 7b) and grooves (6a, 7a) have widths of the order of 2 mm, and are inclined by 10° with respect to the vertical and towards the outside of the panel ( 1 ).
• the outer wall of the male groove (6a) is in contact with the outer wall of the female groove (7a).
• these walls in contact are parallel to each other.
• the male tongue (6b) is in contact with the bottom of the female groove (7a) in order to have a vertical support.
• the female tongue (7b) comprises a chamfered part (12) at the level of the underside of the panel (1) and forming an angle of between 2° and 20° relative to the underside of the panel (1).
• the chamfered part (12) allows the lowering of the female tongue (7b) to come, by deformation, into contact with the ground, and thus provide a reduction of assembly effort.
• the chamfered part (12) of the female tongue (7b) extends to the right of the upper internal edge of the female tongue (7b).
• the upper face of the panel (1) may also have chamfers (13) at the level of the male tongue (6b) and the female groove (7a) in order to participate in the general aesthetics of the panels ( 1), after assembly.
• Each chamfer (13) forms an angle of between 2° and 20° with respect to the upper face of the panel (1).
• the interface between the two assembled panels (1) thus forms a V-shaped groove, see figure 9.
• the size of the lower tongue (Li) and of the lower groove (Ri) along an "X" axis parallel to the ground and perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the panels during assembly is reduced.
• the distance (A1) measured on the X axis between the end of the outer wall of the lower tongue (Li) and the zone of the upper face (E) closest to the outside of the panel is included between 3.5 and 4 mm and the distance (A2) measured on the X axis between the zone of the upper face (E) closest to the outside of the panel and the end of the recess (5a) on the side of the lower groove (Ri) towards the inside of the panel is between 1 and 1.5 mm.
• the upper tab (Ls) has at its free end, a lip (5) projecting laterally outwards from the panel (1), so as to define an outer wall comprising a upper (E') on the side of the upper face of the panel (1), vertical or inclined with respect to a vertical plane towards the outside of the panel (1) away from the upper face of the panel (1), a lower face (G' ) inclined at a greater angle than the upper face (E ') with respect to a vertical plane and towards the outside of the panel (1) away from the upper face of the panel (1) and an intermediate face ( G”) inclined at a smaller angle than the upper face (E') with respect to a vertical plane so as to present an angle of between 0° and 15°, preferably less than 5°, with respect to the vertical.
• the distance (B1) measured on the X axis between the meeting point between the outer wall (F') and the curved portion (8) and the end of the inner wall of the upper groove (Rs) the closest to the inside of the panel is between 2 and 3mm, preferably between 2.2 and 2.6mm
• the distance (B2) measured on the X axis between the zone of the intermediate face (G”) closest from the outside of the panel and the meeting point between the outer wall (F') and the curved portion (8) is between 2 and 3 mm, preferably between 2.4 and 2.8 mm.
• the applicant carried out horizontal and vertical disassembly resistance tests of an assembly means according to FIGS. 12 and 13, as well as bending tests before disassembly, and tests of the force required for assembly with a panel having the following proportions: A1: 3.79mm; A2: 1.28mm; B1: 2.44mm; B2: 2.61mm; section B: 0.48mm.
• the results are compiled in the table below.
• This embodiment therefore makes it possible to reduce the size and the quantity of chips generated during the machining of the assembly means, while maintaining very good resistance to vertical and horizontal unclipping.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Architecture (AREA)
• Civil Engineering (AREA)
• Structural Engineering (AREA)
• Finishing Walls (AREA)
• Floor Finish (AREA)
• Building Environments (AREA)

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Publications (1)

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• 2021
  • 2021-12-31 FR FR2114751A patent/FR3131593B1/fr active Active
• 2022
  • 2022-12-26 US US18/725,715 patent/US20250146300A1/en active Pending
  • 2022-12-26 CN CN202280086326.3A patent/CN118451236A/zh active Pending
  • 2022-12-26 EP EP22847612.3A patent/EP4437201A1/de active Pending
  • 2022-12-26 WO PCT/FR2022/052503 patent/WO2023126606A1/fr not_active Ceased

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