KR100842477B1 - Floorboards and methods for production and installation thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The floorboard and the openable locking system include an undercut groove on one long side of the floorboard and a protruding tongue on opposite long sides of the floorboard. The undercut groove has a corresponding upwardly inner locking surface at a distance from the end. The tongue and undercut grooves are formed to be connected together and pulled away by pivot movement, the center point of the pivot being close to the intersection point C between the surface plane HP of the two adjacent floorboards and the common connection plane VP. Undercuts in the grooves of this locking system are made by disc-shaped cutting tools, the rotating shafts of the disc-shaped cutting tools being inclined with respect to each other, first forming the inside of the undercut portion of the groove and then positioned closer to the opening of the groove. Form a face. This method of placement on the floor of the plate comprises the steps of placing a new plate adjacent to the previously placed plate, moving the tongue of the new plate to the opening of the undercut groove of the previously placed plate, and simultaneously placing the tongue into the undercut groove. Angularly moving the new plate upward while inserting, while simultaneously angling the new plate downward to the final position. The manufacturing method for manufacturing the undercut grooves uses machining by two or more different rotary cutting tools with rotary shafts set at different angles. The wedge shaped tool for placing the floorboard is wedge shaped with an upward connection surface at thicker ends.

Description

Floorboard and its manufacture and installation method {FLOORBOARDS AND METHODS FOR PRODUCTION AND INSTALLATION THEREOF}

The present invention relates to a locking system for the mechanical connection of a floorboard, a floorboard with such a locking system, a method of installing these floorboards, a method of making them, a tool for installing floorboards as well as their use.

The invention is particularly suitable for floorboards which are mechanically connected with wood as a core in the general case based on wood. The following description of the prior art and the objects and features of the present invention therefore correspond, among other things, to rectangular parquet floors connected on the short side as well as the long side. The present invention is particularly suitable for floating floors, ie floors that are movable relative to the base. However, the present invention is based on existing hard floors, such as wood floors with homogeneous wood floors, plate cores or plywood cores, floors with veneer surfaces and cores of wood fibers, floors with thin film floors, plastic cores, and the like. It should be noted that it can be used for all kinds of). Of course, the present invention can also be used in other types of floorboards that can be processed with cutting tools, such as plywood bases or particle boards. Although not good, the floorboard can be fixed to the foundation after installation.

Mechanical joints have become a large market in the short term, mainly due to their good placement properties, joint strength and joint quality. Although floors according to WO 9426999 as described in more detail below and floors sold under the trade name Alloc ^® have great advantages compared to conventional glued floors, however, it is desirable to further improve this.

Mechanical connection systems are very convenient for connecting wood floors and composite floors as well as laminate floors. Such floorboards may consist of a large number of different materials on the surface, core and backside. As will be discussed below, these materials may also be included in several different parts of the connection system, such as strips, locking elements and tongues. However, the problems associated with, for example, the integrated strips provided in accordance with WO 9426999 and WO 9747834 and the tongues providing the vertical connections and the tongues providing the vertical connections, are associated with the formation of mechanical connections by the processing of the sheet material, resulting in costly material waste. Is that.

For best function, for example, a 15mm thick parquet should have a strip approximately the same width as the floor thickness, ie about 15mm. With a tongue of about 3mm, the waste would be 18mm. The floorboard has a normal width of about 200 mm. Therefore, the amount of material waste will be about 9%. In general, the cost of material waste will be greater if the floorboards consist of expensive materials, thicker floorboards, or smaller shapes, thus increasing the total running meter of the floor per square meter of floor.

Certainly, material waste can be reduced if the strip is used and it is in the form of a separately manufactured aluminum strip already fixed on the floorboard in the factory. Moreover, aluminum strips can make better or less expensive connections than strips processed and formed from cores in many applications. A disadvantage of aluminum strips, however, is that the expensive reconstruction of the plant required to convert existing conventional production lines to produce floorboards with such a mechanical connection system can be considered as investment costs. However, the advantage of the prior art aluminum strips is that there is no need to change the starting format of the floorboard.

If the strip produced by the processing of the floorboard material is involved, in this situation it is necessary to change the starting form. Therefore, the shape of the floorboard should be adjusted so that there is enough material to form the strip and tongue. In addition, in laminate flooring, it is often necessary to change the width of the decorative paper used. In addition, all these adjustments and modifications are costly for retrofitting production equipment and for mass production adaptation.

In addition to the aforementioned problems with undesirable material waste and the cost of production and production adaptation, the strips have the disadvantage of being prone to damage during transport construction.

In summary, there is a need to provide mechanical connections that maintain good properties with respect to placement, winding and joint quality and strength at the same time at low production costs. With the prior art solution, it is not possible to obtain it at low cost without lowering the standard of strength and / or placement function. It is therefore an object of the present invention to solve the cost reduction while maintaining strength and function.

The present invention starts with a known floorboard having a core, front, rear and opposing connecting edge, one of which is formed by a top and bottom lip and is formed as a tongue groove having a bottom end and the other. One is formed as a tongue with an upward guide at the free outer end. The tongue groove is in the form of an undercut groove with an opening, an inner and an inner locking surface. At least a portion of the lower lip is integrally formed with the core of the floorboard and the tongue has a locking surface designed to interact with the internal locking surface in the tongue groove of the adjacent floorboard when two such floorboards are mechanically connected, so that the front side of the floorboard It meets in the connecting plane VP located in and perpendicular to the same surface plane HP. This technique is known from DE-A-3041781, which will be described in more detail below.

However, before that, a general description of the locking system for mechanically locking the floorboard and floorboard together will be described as the background of the present invention.

Description of the prior art

In order to facilitate understanding and explanation of the present invention as well as the recognition of the problems in the present invention, a description of both the basic construction and the functions of the floorboard according to WO 9426999 and WO 9966151 is made with reference to FIGS. 1A to 17B in the accompanying drawings. , As follows: In addition, the following description of the prior art applies to embodiments of the present invention as described below with respect to the applicable parts.

3a and 3b show a floorboard 1 according to WO 9426999 seen from above and below respectively. The plate 1 comprises two opposing long sides with an upper side 2, a lower side 3, connecting edges 4a and 4b and two opposite short sides with connecting edges 5a and 5b. Is a rectangle.
The connecting edges 4a and 4b of the long side as well as the connecting edges 5a and 5b of the short side can be mechanically connected in the direction D2 in FIG. Coincident with the top surface in the cavity surface plane HP (indicated in FIG. 2C) in the deployed state.

In the illustrated embodiment, which is an example of a floorboard according to WO 9426999 (FIGS. 1A to 3B in the accompanying drawings), the plate 1 extends along the entire long side 4a and is factory mounted made of flexible, elastic aluminum sheet It has a planar strip 6. The strip 6 extends outwardly beyond the connecting plane VP at the connecting edge 4a. The strip 6 may be mechanically attached according to the embodiment shown or otherwise attached by glue or some other means. As mentioned above, other strip materials, such as sheets of some other metal, aluminum or plastic sections, may also be used as the material for the strips to be attached to the floorboards in the factory. Instead, as described above in WO 9426999 and as described and illustrated in WO 9966151, the strip 6 can be formed integrally with the plate 1, for example by appropriately processing the core of the plate 1. .

The present invention is applicable to floorboards in which at least a portion of the strip or strip is integrally formed with the core, and the present invention solves these floorboards and certain problems arising from their manufacture. The core of the floorboard is not necessary but is suitably made of a uniform material. However, the strip 6 is always integral with the plate 1, ie the strip must be formed on the plate or factory mounted.

According to the embodiments known from WO 9426999 and WO 9966151 described above, the width of the strip 6 can be about 30 mm and the thickness can be about 0.5 mm.

Similarly, shorter strips 6 'are also arranged along one short side 5a of the plate 1. The part of the strip 6 which projects beyond the connecting plane VP is formed by a locking element 8 extending along the entire strip 6. The locking element 8 has at its lower end an operable locking surface 10 which faces the connection plane VP and has a height of, for example, 0.5 mm. In arrangement, this locking surface 10 cooperates with a locking groove 14 made in the lower surface 3 of the connecting edge 4b on the opposite long side of the adjacent plate 1 '. The strip 6 'along the short side has a corresponding locking element 8' and the connecting edge 5b on the opposite short side has a corresponding locking groove 14 '. The edges of the locking grooves 14, 14 ′ facing away from the connection plane VP form an operative locking surface 10 ′ for cooperating with the operative locking surface 10 of the locking element.

Further, in order to mechanically connect not only the long side but also the short side in the vertical direction (D1 direction in FIG. 1C), the plate 1 has one long side thereof (connection edge portion 4a) and one short side thereof (connection edge portion). An open recess or tongue groove 16 is formed laterally along (5a). It is formed upward by the upper lip at the connecting edges 4a, 5a and downward by the respective strips 6, 6 '. At the opposite edges 4b and 5b there is an upper gap 18 which forms a locking tongue 20 which cooperates with the gap or tongue groove 16 (see FIG. 2A).

1a to 1c show a downward view of how these two plates 1, 1 ′ on the foundation U pivot about a center C close to the intersection between the surface plane HP and the connection plane VP. It shows whether the plates remain in intimate contact with each other, connected to each other in angular angling.

2a-2c show how the short sides 5a, 5b of the plates 1, 1 ′ can be connected together by a snap action. The long sides 4a, 4b can be connected by both methods, while the connections of the short sides 5a, 5b after the arrangement of the first row of floorboards are normally only snapped after the long sides 4a, 4b are connected first. By action.

When the new plate 1 'and the previously placed plate 1 are connected along the long side edges 4a and 4b according to FIGS. 1a to 1c, the long side edge 4b of the new plate 1'. Is pressed against the long side edge portion 4a of the plate 1 previously arranged according to FIG. 1A, so that the locking tongue 20 is inserted into the gap or tongue groove 16. The plate 1 'is then angularly downwardly directed towards the subfloor (rough floor beneath the floor) according to FIG. 1B. The locking tongue 20 completely enters the crevice or tongue groove 16 while at the same time the locking element 8 of the strip 6 snaps into the locking groove 14. During this downward angular movement, the upper part 9 of the locking element 8 is operable and can carry out the guidance of the new plate 1 ′ towards the previously placed plate 1.

In these connected positions according to FIG. 1C, the plates 1, 1 ′ are reliably locked in the D2 direction as well as in the D1 direction along the long side edges 4a, 4b, but the plates 1, 1 ′ are long sided. Can be displaced relative to one another in the longitudinal direction (ie direction D3) of the connection portion.

2a to 2c show that the short side edges 5a, 5b of the plates 1, 1 ′ are replaced by a new plate 1 ′ which is essentially horizontally displaced towards the previously placed plate 1. It shows whether it can be mechanically connected in the D2 direction as well as the direction. This can be done in the previously placed plate 1 in the adjacent row by inward angular motion, in particular after the long side of the new plate 1 'is connected. In the first step of FIG. 2A, the inclined surface of the gap 16 and the locking tongue 20 interact so that the strip 6 ′ is forced as a direct result of connecting the short side edges 5a, 5b together. Bends downward During final joining, the strip 6 'snaps up as the locking element 8' enters the locking groove 14 ', thus actuating locking on the locking element 8' and in the locking groove 14 '. Faces 10 and 10 'connect with each other.

By repeating the operation shown in FIGS. 1A-1C and 2A-2C, the entire floor can be arranged without glue along all the connecting edges. Therefore, the previous floorboard of the type described above is firstly generally angularly downwardly oriented on the longitudinal side, and when the longitudinal side is locked, the horizontal displacement (direction) of the new plate 1 ′ along the longitudinal side of the previously placed plate 1. Mechanical connection by means of short sides snapped together by D3). The plates 1, 1 ′ can be lifted again in the reverse order of placement without damaging the connections and then placed once again. In addition, some of these arrangement principles are applicable in connection with the present invention.

In order to ensure the best and easy placement and re-lifting, the prior art plates are connected between the operative locking surface 10 of the locking element and the operative locking surface 10 'of the locking groove 14 along the long side after connection. It must be positioned to have a minimum play of. However, there is no need for free space in the actual butt joints between the plates in the connection plane VP (ie surface plane HP) close to the upper side of the plate. To take this position, you will need to press one plate against each other. A more detailed description of this free space can be found in WO 9426999. This clearance will be on the order of 0.01-0.05 mm between the operable locking surfaces 10, 10 'when the long sides of the adjacent plates press against each other. This clearance facilitates the entry and exit of the locking element 8 in the locking grooves 14, 14 ′. However, as described above, no free space is required in the connection between the plates where the surface plane HP and the connection plane VP intersect at the upper side of the floorboard.

The connection system can change along the connection edge in the locked position after connecting the optional side. Therefore, all variations of the following three basic methods can be deployed in many different ways:

* Angular movement of the long side and snap-in of the short side

* Snap-in long side-snap-in side

* Angular movement of one side, upward angular movement of two plates, displacement of the new plate along the lateral edge of the previous plate, and finally angular movement of both plates

The most common and most stable arrangement is that the long side first angulates downward and locks against other floorboards. As a result, the displacement in the locked position occurs toward the short side of the third floorboard, so that the short side can be snapped in. The arrangement may also be by one side, long side or short side, and may be snapped with the other plate. The displacement in the locked position then takes place until the other side snaps with the third plate. These two methods require snap-in on at least one side. However, placement can also take place without a snapping action. In a third variant, the short side of the first plate is first angularly inwardly directed towards the short side of the second plate, and the second plate is already connected with the third plate on its long side. After this connection, the first and second plates are angled somewhat upwards. The first plate is moved to an upward angular position along its short side until the upper connecting edges of the first plate and the third plate come into contact with each other, after which the two plates are connected ingle downwardly.

The above mentioned floorboards and their locking systems have been very successful in the market in connection with laminate floors having a thickness of about 7 mm and aluminum strips 6 having a thickness of about 0.6 mm. Similarly, commercial variations of floorboards according to WO 9966151 shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B are successful. However, it is known that this known content is not particularly well suited for the formation of parquet with floorboards made of wood fiber-based materials, in particular large wood or glued laminate wood. One of the reasons why this known technology is not suitable for this type of product is the large waste of material caused by the processing of the edges in forming the tongue grooves with the required depth.

In order to partially solve this problem, it is possible to use the techniques shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B of the accompanying drawings and described and illustrated in DE-A-3343601, ie, of individual elements attached to the long side edges. It was possible to form both connecting edges. In addition, this technique results in a high cost of the aluminum section and requires considerable processing. Moreover, it is difficult to attach the section element along the edge at an effective cost. However, the illustrated geometry does not allow mounting and dismounting without significant clearance by downward and upward angular motion, respectively. This is because the elements do not move away from each other during these movements if they are made with a tight fit (see FIG. 5B).

Another conventional design of a floorboard with a mechanical locking system is shown in FIGS. 6A-6D and described and illustrated in CA-A-0991373 in the accompanying drawings. Using this mechanical locking system, all forces trying to pull the long side of the plate away are lifted by the locking element at the outer end of the strip (see FIG. 6A). When placing and lifting the floor, the material must be flexible to allow the tongue to be released by rotating about two centers simultaneously. Hermetic fitting between all surfaces makes rotational manipulation and displacement in the locked position impossible. The short side surface 6c does not have a horizontal lock. However, such mechanical locking causes a large amount of material waste by the design of large locking elements.

One further known design of the mechanical locking element for the plate is shown in GB-A-1430429 and FIGS. 7A and 7B of the accompanying drawings. This system is basically a tongue-and-groove connection provided with an extra holding hook on an extended lip on one side of the tongue groove and a corresponding holding ridge formed on the upper side of the tongue. and groove joint). This system requires significant elastic force on the lip provided to the hook, and the release cannot occur without breaking the connecting edge of the plate. Airtight fittings make manufacturing difficult and the geometry of the connections causes a large amount of material waste.

Another known design of a mechanical locking system for floorboards is described in DE-A-4242530. This locking system is also shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B of the accompanying drawings. This conventional locking system has some drawbacks. It is difficult to manufacture in an efficient manner where high quality connections are desired in high quality floors as well as waste of large amounts of material in the manufacture. Tongue grooved undercut grooves can only be made using shank-end mills that are moved along the connecting edges. Therefore, it is not possible to use large disc shaped cutting tools to machine the plate from the side edges.

For the different types of mechanical connections of plates, especially floorboards, there are many proposals for low material waste and an efficient way to produce wood fiber and wood based plate materials. Therefore, WO 9627721 (FIGS. 9A and 9B in the accompanying drawings) and JP 3169967 (FIGS. 10A and 10B in the attached drawings) are of two types, with a small waste but with defects that do not allow release of the floorboard by upward angular motion. Describe the snapping connections. In fact, these connection systems can be made in an efficient way using large disk-shaped cutting tools, but these connection systems are critical for locking systems where release by upward angular motion cannot place the plate more than once by mechanical locking. Has serious drawbacks causing damage.

Another known system is described in DE-A-1212275 and shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B of the accompanying drawings. This known system is suitable for sports floors made of plastic material, but cannot be manufactured by disc shaped cutting tools to form pointed undercut grooves. This known system also cannot be released by the upper angular motion without the material having a large elastic force such that the upper and lower lips around the undercut groove are greatly deformed and pulled away.

Tongue and groove connections with inclined grooves and tongues are also proposed in accordance with US-A-1124228. This type of connection, shown in FIGS. 12C and 12D, makes it impossible to mount the new plate by pushing it down on an obliquely upwardly facing tongue on the previously placed plate. To fix the newly placed plate, use nails that are nailed down obliquely through the plate on the obliquely upward facing tongue. In the embodiment according to FIGS. 12A and 12B, this technique cannot be used because dovetail joints are used. This technique surely causes a small amount of material waste, but is not at all suitable when a floating floor with individual floorboards that is intact, mounted and released in a simple manner and has high quality connections must be provided.

DE-A-3041781 describes and shows a locking system for making plate connections, in particular roller-skating rings and bowling alleys from plastic materials. Such a connection system is also shown in FIGS. 13A-13D of the accompanying drawings. The system includes an undercut longitudinal groove along one edge of the plate and an upwardly bent tongue protruding along the opposite edge of the plate. In cross section, the undercut groove is formed by parallel surface portions and a first portion parallel to the main plane of the plate and a second interior trapezoidal or reflective trapezoid (FIGS. 13A and 13B in the accompanying drawings, FIGS. 13C and 13D, respectively). Has In cross section, the tongues are angular with respect to each other, where the portion closest to the center of the plate is parallel to the major plane of the plate and the outer free portion is angularly moved upward in the trapezoidal portion of the undercut groove in a corresponding upward direction with the corresponding surface portion. It has two planar-parallel portions that are moved.

The design of the edges of the plates, as well as the tongues and grooves, undercuts when two such plates are mechanically connected, on the one hand, along the surface of the tongue and the entire upper and outer ends of the tongue, as well as undercuts along the undercut of the inner planar parallel of the tongue. Between the corresponding surface portions of the grooves, on the other hand, a connection is made between the tongue and the edge surface of the plate connected above and below the grooves, respectively. The new plate is angled upward at an appropriate angle to insert the angulated outside of the tongue into the outer plane-parallel portion of the groove in the previously placed plate. Thus the tongue is inserted into the groove while the new plate is angularly downward. Due to the annular shape of the tongue, a significant amount of free space is required in the first part of the groove to allow this insertion and inward angular movement to be performed. Alternatively, a considerable degree of elasticity of the flooring material is required, and according to this patent, it is composed of a plastic material. In the position of the connection, there is a connection between the undercut groove and the major part of the surface of the tongue, except for the downwardly angular outward motion of the tongue.

A major drawback of mechanical locking systems according to DE-A-3041781 is that they are difficult to produce. As a production method, it is proposed to use a mushroom shank-end milling machine having an outside that makes a trapezoidal interior with a cross-sectional area of the tongue groove. This production method is not particularly reasonable and furthermore causes a large error problem when the production method is used to produce wooden floorboards and other boards to form wall panels or parquet boards with high quality connections.

As mentioned above, a deficiency of this prior art mechanical locking system is that if the insertion of the angular tongue into the groove does not have a significant degree of elasticity in the plate material, then there is a significant amount of free space between the tongue and the groove (DE-A). -3041781 and FIG. 13B of the accompanying drawings). Moreover, this downward angular motion cannot be carried out if the new and previously arranged plates are connected together in such a way that they are in close contact with each other at the upper edges of the plates above the tongue and groove, respectively, so the pivot center of downward angular movement is at this point. Is set.

One drawback when connecting this prior art mechanical locking system according to DE-A-3041781 with a fairly thick plate of wood is the displacement of the new plate along the large surface part along the previously placed plate in the placement or partially raised position. This is made very difficult by the plates connecting to each other. Although the processing of wood boards or wood fiber based boards is made very precisely, these surface parts have very soft but protruding fibers for natural reasons, and these fibers greatly increase the frictional force. When placing parquet or the like, it includes a long board (often 2 to 2.4 m long and 0.2 to 0.4 m wide) and essentially natural materials. This type of floor is warped and therefore will often deviate from the full bottom shape (the floor has a "banana" shape). In these cases, if it is desired to mechanically lock the plates together on the short side, it will still make it more difficult to move the newly placed plates along the previously placed plates.

A further disadvantage of the mechanical locking system according to DE-A-3041781 is that it is made of wood or wood fiber-based material and therefore connects with high quality flooring, which requires a tight seal in the vertical direction between the tongue and the grooves in order to prevent cracking. Is not very suitable.

WO 9747834 describes floorboards with different types of mechanical locking systems. The locking system (Figs. 2-4, 11 and 22-25 of this patent publication), which attempts to lock the long sides of the plate together, is designed to be mounted and released by connection and angular movement, while Most of what is intended to be locked together (Figs. 5-10) is designed to be connected to one another by translationally pushing towards one another in order to be connected by snapping locks, but these locking systems on one side of the plate are either broken or which In a case it cannot be disassembled without being damaged.

Some plates described in WO 9747834 and designed for connection and disassembly by angular movement (Figs. 2-4 of WO 9747834 and Figs. 14A to 14C of the accompanying drawings) have grooves at one edge thereof, It has a strip that protrudes under the groove and extends beyond the connecting plane where the upper sides of the two connecting plates meet. The strip is designed to cooperate with the essentially complementary formed part on the opposite edge of the plate, so that two similar plates can be connected. A feature of the cavity of these floorboards is that the upper side of the tongue of the plate and the corresponding upper boundary of the groove are planar and parallel to the surface or upper side of the floorboard. Connecting the plates so that they are not pulled away in the transverse direction of the connecting plane is exclusively by the locking surface on the lower side of the tongue on one side and on the upper side of the strip or lower lip under the groove on the other side. . These locking systems also suffer from the drawback that the system needs a strip that extends beyond the connection plane, which can also lead to material waste at the connecting edge where the groove is formed.

WO 9747834 also includes correspondingly formed grooves in opposite side edges of the circular-arc tongue and floorboard (see, FIGS. 14D and 14E). When connecting such a locking system, the end of the tongue enters towards the opening of the arc-shaped groove, after which the downward angular motion begins. In this downward angular motion, there is a large surface contact between all the arcuate surface of the tongue and the groove. If this type of connection system is used for the flooring of wood or wood based materials, it becomes very difficult to achieve a smooth and simple connection. Moreover, the friction between the arcuate face and the end of the tongue and the bottom of the groove requires considerable force to move one plate along the other in these connection states. This prior art is certainly better than the technique described in DE-A-3041781 described above, but has many defects in the technique as well.

US-A-2740167 (also see FIGS. 15A and 15B of the accompanying drawings) is made of wood and has parquet boards or rectangles with edges hooked to each other when placing several rectangular parquets within a row at these opposite edges. Describe the parquet boards or squares. One edge is a downward hook and the other opposite edge is an upward hook. In order to allow the insertion of a new parquet under the previously placed parquet, the lower side of the upward hook is inclined. The parquet boards connected in the vertical connection plane are fixed in the horizontal direction only perpendicular to the connection plane. In addition, in order to fix the plate perpendicularly to the upper side of the parquet plate, a glue layer is first used spreading on the base portion on which the parquet is to be arranged. Thus, the previously placed parquet can only be lifted once before the glue hardens. Therefore, in practice, the parquet is permanently fixed to the foundation after placement.

CA-A-2252791 shows and describes a floorboard having a tongue specially designed along one long side and a tongue formed complementary to the other long side. 16A and 16B of this patent specification and the accompanying drawings, the tongue and groove are rounded and obliquely angularly upward, placing a new plate close to the placed plate and then simultaneously lifting and angling, Then one plate can be connected to the other by simultaneously connecting them together and pulling the grooves down over the obliquely upward tongue during downward angular motion. Complementary formation of the tongue and groove makes it difficult to connect and, optionally, to pull the adjacent floorboard away one more time. Departure from the planar form, ie a "banana shape", creates an additional obstacle in connecting two such plates. Therefore, the risk of tongue damage is increased and the design causes great friction between the grooves and the surfaces of the tongue.

US-A-5797237 describes a snapping locking system for connecting parquet plates. In the accompanying drawings, FIG. 17A shows a cross-section of two connecting plates, and FIG. 17B shows that this known floorboard cannot be dismantled by angling the plate upward relative to the remaining floorboard. Instead, as shown in FIG. 4B of this patent specification, both plates that will remain in contact with the plate to be removed must be raised to pull the tongue out of the groove. This system is very similar to the system described in US-A-2740167 (FIGS. 15A and 15B in the accompanying drawings), except that a short lower lip is formed below the upper hook shaped protrusion or lip. This short lower lip does not have a connecting effect because there is a gap between the lower side of the tongue and the upper side of this short lower lip when the two plates connect. In addition, this clearance is required for the dismantling method as shown in Fig. 17C. Obviously, we say that the connection system is a snapping connection, but perhaps the placement plate is slightly upwardly angulated to fit the tongue under the hook-shaped lip of this plate. Such a mechanical locking system can be manufactured with the aid of a large disc shaped cutting tool, as also shown in this patent specification. Within this locking system, there is no undercut groove with adjacent upper and lower ribs facing the inserted tongue and the lock both vertically and horizontally. The groove therefore has a greater vertical area than the corresponding part of the tongue. The placement floor can therefore move towards and away from the foundation, which causes cracking in the connection and unacceptable vertical displacement. With insufficient locking, high quality connections cannot be obtained in either case.

FR-A-2675174 describes a mechanical connection system for ceramic tiles with oppositely formed opposite edges, in which case the individual springs are mounted at a distance from each other and formed to hold beads on the edges of adjacent tiles. Use separate spring clips.

19A and 19B show a floorboard formed according to JP 7180333 and made by extrusion of a metal material. After mounting, as can be seen substantially from FIG. 19B, this floorboard cannot be dismantled due to the connection geometry.

Finally, FIGS. 20A and 20B show another known connection system described in GB-A-2117813 and used as a large insulated wall panel. This system is very similar to the system described above according to CA-A-2252791 and the system of WO 9747834 as shown in FIGS. 14D and 14E of the accompanying drawings. This system has the same deficiencies as the two systems just mentioned and is not suitable for the efficient production of floorboards based on wood or wood fiber material, especially where high quality connections in high quality floors are desired. Configurations according to GB publications use metal sections as connection elements and cannot be opened by upward angular motion.

Other prior art systems are described, for example, in DE 20013380U1, JP 2000179137A, DE 3041781, DE 19925248, DE 20001225, EP 0623724, EP 0976889 and EP 1045083.

As can be seen from the foregoing, prior art systems have both defects and advantages. However, the locking system is best suited for the rational production of floorboards with a locking system that is best for production technology, material wastage, placement and lifting, and can be used for floors that are of high quality, strength and functionality in the deployed state. Is not.

It is an object of the present invention to meet this need and to provide such a best floorboard and a best locking system for floorboards. Another object of the present invention is to provide a reasonable method for producing a floorboard with such a locking system. Another object of the present invention is to provide a new installation method which allows for easier and more rational deployment than previously made. Another object of the present invention is to provide a tool that facilitates the placement of the floorboard by connecting with the upward angular movement of the floorboard. Another object of the present invention is to provide the use of such a tool for arranging floorboards. Further objects of the present invention are apparent from the following description as well as the above description.

Summary of the Invention

The floorboard and the openable locking system therefore comprise an undercut groove on one long side of the floorboard and a protruding tongue on the opposite long side of the floorboard. The undercut groove has a corresponding upwardly inner locking surface at a distance from the end. The tongue and undercut groove are formed to be connected together and pulled away by pivot movement, the center point of the pivot being close to the intersection between the surface plane of the two adjacent floorboards and the common connection plane. The undercut in the groove of this locking system is made by the disc shaped cutting tool, the rotating shafts of the disc shaped cutting tool being inclined with respect to each other, first forming the inner part of the undercut portion of the groove and then positioned closer to the opening of the groove. To form a locking surface. This method of placement on the floor of the plate comprises the steps of placing a new plate adjacent to the previously placed plate, moving the tongue of the new plate to the opening of the undercut groove of the previously placed plate, and simultaneously placing the tongue into the undercut groove. Angularly moving the new plate upward while inserting, while simultaneously angling the new plate downward to the final position.

However, the features of the locking system, floorboard and arrangement method according to the invention are described in the independent claims. The dependent claims define in particular preferred embodiments according to the invention. Moreover, the advantages and features of the present invention can be seen from the description below.

Before describing specific and preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, the existing concepts, strengths and functional conditions of the present invention will be described.

The invention is applicable to rectangular floorboards having parallel sides of the first pair and parallel sides of the second pair. For simplicity, the first pair is referred to below as the long side and the second pair is referred to as the short side. However, it will be appreciated that the present invention is also applicable to plates that may be rectangular.

High quality connections

High quality connections mean tight fit in the locking position between the floorboards, both vertically and horizontally. The floorboards can be connected as well as in the unloaded state, with no difference in level or very large visible gap between the connecting edges in the normal loaded state. In high quality floors, the gap between the gap and the level should be less than 0.2 and 0.1 mm respectively.

Downward angular motion and guide due to rotation at the connecting edge

As can be seen from the description below, it should be possible to lock at least one side, preferably the long side, by downward angular motion. The downward angular motion should be able to occur by rotation around the center which forms the "upper connection edge" of the plate, ie close to, the intersection between the connection plane and the surface plane of the floorboard when in contact with each other. Otherwise, it is impossible to make a connection having a tight connection edge in the locked position.

It should be possible to end the rotation in the horizontal position, and in the horizontal position the floorboard is locked vertically without any clearance since the clearance can cause an undesirable difference in the level between the connecting edges. The inward angular motion must also be able to take place in such a way that it simultaneously guides the floorboards towards each other in a tight connecting edge and does not become either banana shaped (ie deviating from the straight flat shape of the floorboard). The locking system and the locking groove have guide means which cooperate with each other during the inward angular motion. Downward angular movements must occur very safely to avoid hitting and pinching the plates with each other, which creates a risk of damaging the locking system.

Upward angular movement around the connecting edge

It should be possible to angularly move the long side up so that the floorboard is released. Since the plate in the starting position is connected to the hermetic connecting edge, this upward angular motion therefore also takes place at the upper connecting edges which are in contact with each other and can occur with rotation at the connecting edges. This possibility of upward angular motion is very important when moving floors as well as changing floorboards. Many floorboards are experimentally or incorrectly placed adjacent to doors, such as in corners during installation. If the floorboard does not damage the connection system and cannot be released easily, it is a big fault. It is not always the case that a plate that can be angled inward can also be angled again upward. In connection with the downward angular movement, some downward bending of the strip usually occurs, so that the locking element is bent backwards and opens. If the connection system is not formed at the proper angle and radius, the plates can be locked in a way that is impossible to lift after placement. The short side may normally be pushed along the connecting edge after the connecting side of the long side is opened by the upward angular movement, but it is also preferred if the short side can be opened by the upward angular movement. This is particularly good when the plate is long, for example 2.4 m, which makes pulling of the short side difficult. The upward angular movement must take place very safely so as not to strike and tighten the plates, which creates a risk of damaging the locking system.

Snap-in

It should be possible to lock the short sides by horizontal snapping-ins. This requires that parts of the connection system be soluble and bendable. Although the inward angular movement of the long side is much easier and faster than snapping-in, it is also desirable that the long side can be snapped-in, because in some placement operations, for example round doors, the plates must be connected horizontally.

The cost of the material on the long and short sides

If the floorboard is, for example, 1.2 * 0.2m, each width of the floor surface will have a long side that is about six times more than the short side connection. Therefore, a large amount of material waste and expensive joint material is less important on the one side than on the long side.

Horizontal strength

In order to obtain a high strength, the locking element must generally have a high locking angle, so the locking element does not snap out. The locking element should be high and wide so that the floor shrinks during the winter when the relative humidity is low during the year, so that it does not break under high tensile loads. This also applies to the material closest to the locking groove in the other plate. Short-sided connections should have a higher strength than the long-sided connections because during winter shrinkage the tensile loads are distributed over shorter connections along the short side rather than along the long side.

Vertical strength

It must be possible to maintain the plate plane when subjected to vertical loads. Moreover, movement in the connection should be avoided because the surface under pressure and moving relative to each other, for example the upper connection edge, may cause cracking.

Displacement

In order to be able to lock all four sides, the newly placed plate must be able to be displaced in the locking position along the previously placed plate. This displacement takes place by damaging the connecting edges and without creating a clearance where the connecting system can be seen in the horizontal and vertical directions, and by using a considerable amount of force, for example by using a block and a hammer together. Displaceability is more important on the long side than on the short side because the friction is inherently greater at the longer connection.

production

It must be possible to reasonably produce connection systems using large rotary cutting tools with very good accuracy and capacity.

Measure

For good function, production error and quality it is required that the connection profile can be measured and checked continuously. An important part of a mechanical connection system must be designed in such a way that it is easy to produce and measure. It should be possible to produce critical parts with an error of several hundred millimeters, and therefore be able to measure them with great accuracy, for example with a so-called profile projector. If the connection system is produced with linear cutting, the connection system will have the same profile across the entire edge, except for any production error. Therefore, the connection system can be measured with great accuracy by sawing from a plate to cut some samples and measuring them with a profile projector or a measuring microscope. However, for rational production, the connection system also needs to be measured quickly and easily without breaking methods, for example without the use of gauges. This is easy when there are as few important parts of the locking system as possible.

Make the most of long and short sides

In order to make the floorboard the best at the lowest cost, the long side and the short side must be the best in terms of their different properties as described above. For example, the long side should be best for downward angular motion, upward angular motion, positioning and displaceability, while the short side should be best for snap-in and high strength. Therefore, the best designed floorboards should have different connection systems in the long and short sides.

Possibility of transverse movement of the connecting edge

Wood floorboards and generally floorboards containing wood fibers expand and contract with changes in relative humidity. Since expansion and contraction usually start from above, the surface layer can move more than the core, part of which forms the connection system. In order to prevent the upper connection edges from being raised or pressed in the event of high expansion, or to prevent connection gaps from drying out, the connection system must be configured to allow compensating movement for expansion and contraction.

Defects of Prior Art Systems

4A and 4B show prior art systems in the form of trade names Alloc ^® Original and Alloc ^® Home with protruding strips that can be angulated or snapped together.

The prior art system according to FIGS. 9A-16B can produce more wasteful mechanical connections than mechanical locking systems with protruding and machined strips. However, all of them do not satisfy the above requirements and do not solve the problem to be solved by the present invention.

7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 18, and 19 (for example, FIG. 7 described herein includes FIGS. 7A and 7B, which are simplified for simplicity). Can not be locked or opened by pivotal movement around the top of the connecting edge, and the connecting part according to FIGS. 8, 11 and 19 cannot be reasonably produced by machining of a plate with a rotary cutting tool having a large tool diameter.

The floorboard according to FIGS. 12A and 12B cannot be angularly moved or snapped, but must first be pushed in parallel with the connecting edge. The connection according to FIGS. 12c and 12d cannot be snapped. This can possibly be angled inwardly, but in this case it has to be produced with too much free space in the connection system. The strength in the vertical direction is small because the upper and lower connecting surfaces are parallel. The connection also contains no free surface, making it difficult to produce and move within the locked position. Furthermore, it has been proposed to use nails that are screwed obliquely into the floorboard on the tongue facing obliquely upward by nailing to the base.

The connection system according to FIGS. 6c and 6d, 15a and 15b and 17a and 17b is an example of a connection without vertical locking, ie allowing movement perpendicular to the upper side of the plate.

The inward angular motion connection according to FIGS. 14d and 14e should have a tight fit and the grooves and tongues go along a circular arc with the top and bottom of the tongue having a center point at the upper connection edge, ie the intersection between the connection plane and the surface plane. It is manufactured and constructed in accordance with the number of defects. This connection does not have the necessary guidance, and it is difficult to angularly move together because the connection has an incorrect design and too large connection surface. In turn, the connection is tightened and has a drawer effect during the so-called inward angular motion. The strength in the horizontal direction is too small, depending on the lower locking angle, and the angle difference between the upper and lower connecting surfaces is too small. Moreover, the forward and upper upward angular portions of the tongue grooves are too small to manage the forces required for high quality connection systems. Too large contact surface between the tongue and groove, the absence of the necessary free surface without contact and the requirement for airtight fitting in the entire connection, have the potential to make the lateral displacement of the floorboard along the connection edge significantly more difficult and to achieve good errors. Makes rational production difficult. Also, they cannot be snapped together in the horizontal direction.

The connection system according to FIGS. 16A and 16B has a design that cannot be angulated together without significant deformation of the material, making it difficult to achieve with conventional plate materials suitable for flooring. Also in this case, all parts of the tongue and groove are in contact with each other. This makes it difficult or impossible for the lateral displacement of the plate in the locked position. In addition, the fact that all surfaces are in contact with each other makes rational machining impossible. Snapping cannot be performed in either case.

The connection system according to FIGS. 6A and 6B cannot be angulated together because they are configured to move about two pivot centers simultaneously. There is no horizontal locking in the tongue groove. All surfaces remain in contact with each other with a hermetic fit. In practice, the connection system cannot be displaced and cannot be reasonably manufactured. 6c and 6d and intended for use in a locking system that is formed on adjacent vertically set edges of the plate and does not require lateral displacement for connection purposes.

The connection system according to FIGS. 8A and 8B has tongue grooves that cannot be manufactured with rotary cutting tools with large tool diameters. It cannot be snapped and is configured to prevent lateral displacement by initial stress and a tight fit adjacent the outer vertical part of the strip.

The connection system according to FIGS. 5a and 5b comprises two aluminum sections. Production with rotary cutting tools with large tool diameters to form tongue grooves is impractical. Since the connection system is formed such that it is impossible to angulate the new plate inward by the upper connection edge of the new plate which remains in contact with the upper connection edge of the previously placed plate, the inward angular movement is not possible. It occurs around the pivot center at the intersection between the planes. In order to allow inward angular motion when using this prior art system, it is necessary to have a considerable amount of free space beyond what is acceptable in normal floorboards where high quality, psychologically good connections are required. The connection system according to FIGS. 13A-13D is difficult to manufacture because it requires contact across the large surface portion of the tongue and outside of the tongue groove. In addition, this makes lateral displacement in the locked position difficult. The connector geometry disables upward angular motion around the upper connection edge.

The present invention

The present invention enables the formation of reasonably good geometries with great accuracy of wood, wood board, and plastic materials by using a suitable production method, using inherently processing tools with tool diameters that greatly exceed the thickness of the plate. It is based on the first knowledge that this and that this type of machining can be done in the tongue groove at a distance from the connecting plane. Therefore, the shape of the connection system must be adapted to a reasonable production that must be able to occur with very narrow errors. However, this modification does not occur at the expense of other important properties of the floorboard and the locking system.

The invention is also based on a second knowledge of the conditions to be satisfied by the best functional mechanical connection system. This knowledge is not previously known, that is to say a) the design of connections with, for example, specific angles, radii, clearances, free surfaces and ratios between different parts of the system, and b) compression, softening, bending, tensile strength. And the best use of the material properties of the core, such as compressive strength, are made to satisfy these conditions.

The present invention can further provide a connection system with low production costs while improving functionality by maintaining the function and strength, or even in some cases by manufacturing techniques, connection design, material selection and best of both long and short sides. It is based on third knowledge.

The present invention is based on a fourth knowledge in which connection systems, manufacturing techniques and measurement techniques have been developed and adjusted so that the critical part requiring narrow errors should be as small as possible and also designed to allow measurement and check in continuous production. .

According to the first aspect of the invention therefore all four of the floorboard having the locking system and the locking system in the first vertical direction D1, the second horizontal direction D2 and the third direction D3 perpendicular to the second horizontal direction. There is provided a floorboard with such a locking system for mechanically connecting the corresponding side of another floorboard with the same locking system as the dog side.

The floorboard can have a detachable mechanical connection system, which is known on both sides and can be laterally moved and locked to the locked position by angular inward rotation around the upper connection edge or by horizontal snapping. The floorboard has a locking system according to the invention on two other sides. The floorboard may also have a locking system according to the invention on all four sides.

Thus at least two opposing sides of the floorboard have a connection system designed according to the invention and comprising a tongue and tongue grooves formed by upper and lower ribs, the outer and upper part of the tongue having an upper portion, the tongue The upper portion of the groove has an undercut. The undercut of the tongue groove and the upside of the tongue in the upper lip have a locking surface that counteracts and prevents horizontal separation in the transverse direction D2 of the connecting plane. The tongue and tongue groove also have a cooperating support surface which prevents vertical separation in the direction D1 parallel to the connecting plane. This support surface is found at least on the bottom of the tongue and on the lower lip of the tongue groove. At the top, the cooperative locking surface can act as the upper support surface, but the upper lip of the tongue and tongue groove may preferably have a separate upper support surface. Tongues, tongue grooves, locking elements and undercuts can be produced by machining with tools that have tool diameters greater than the thickness of the floorboard. The tongue can be inserted into the tongue groove and its undercut by its inward angular movement to the center of rotation close to the intersection between the connecting plane and the surface plane, and the tongue is also provided with a floorboard with the upper connection edge of the adjacent floorboard. It may be released from the tongue groove if it is pivoted or angularly upward at the contacting upper connecting edge. For easy production, measurement, inward angular motion, upward angular motion and longitudinal lateral displacement of the connection and to reduce any problems caused by counteracting creaking and flooring expansion / contraction, the connection system It is formed of surfaces that do not contact each other during inward angular motion and in the locked position.

According to a second aspect of the invention the floorboard has two edges with a connection system according to the invention, where the plates remain in contact with each other and their upper connection edges are close to the intersection between the connection plane and the surface plane. By causing the pivot to occur around the pivot center close to this point, the tongue with an upward portion can be inserted and released into the tongue groove and its undercut by downward and upward angular motion, respectively. Moreover, the locking system can be snapped together by horizontal displacement, in essence, the bottom of the tongue groove is bent and the locking element of the tongue snaps into the locking groove. Alternatively or additionally, the tongue can be made flexible to facilitate this snap-in at the short side after the long side of the floorboard is connected. The invention therefore also relates to a snapping connection which can be released by upwardly angularly moving the upper connection edge in contact with each other.

According to a third aspect of the invention the floorboard has two edges with a connection system formed according to the invention, wherein the tongue is snapped into the tongue groove and then the upper connection edge when the plate is held in an upwardly angular position. It can be angulated downward by pivotal movement around the part. In the upward angular position, the upper connecting edges come into contact with each other, and then the plate in this position is translated into the tongue groove until the downward angular movement takes place for the final connection of the tongue and tongue grooves and to lock them together. By moving to the tongue can be partially inserted into the tongue groove. Since the lower lip can be shorter than the upper lip, greater degrees of freedom can be obtained than when designing the undercut of the upper lip.

Many aspects of the invention are also applicable to conventional systems without combining these aspects with the preferred locking system described herein.

The present invention also describes the basic principle that a tongue and groove connection must be satisfied that can be angulated inwardly with the upper connection edge in contact with each other and which can be snapped in with minimal bending of the connection part. The invention also describes how the material properties can be used to achieve great strength and low cost by combining angular motion and snapping as well as placement methods.

Other aspects of the invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show another embodiment of the invention. Portions of the inventive plate that are equivalent to those of the prior art plates of FIGS. 1A-1C and 2A-2C are given the same reference numerals throughout the specification.

1a to 1c show in three stages a downward angular motion method for the mechanical connection of the long sides of the floorboard according to WO 9426999.

2a to 2c show in three stages a snap-in method for the mechanical connection of the short side of the floorboard according to WO 9426999.

3a and 3b show the floorboard according to WO 9426999 above and below respectively.

4a and 4b show two different embodiments of floorboards according to WO 9966151.

5A and 5B show a floorboard according to DE-A-3343601.

6a to 6d show a mechanical locking system for each of the long side and short side of the floorboard according to CA-A-0991373.

7a and 7b show a mechanical locking system according to GB-A-1430429.

8A and 8B show a plate according to DE-A-4242530.

9a and 9b show snapping connections according to WO 9627721.

10a and 10b show snapping connections according to JP 3169967.

11a and 11b show snapping connections according to DE-A-1212275.

12A-12D show another embodiment of a tongue and groove based locking system according to US-A-1124228.

13a to 13d show a mechanical connection system for a sports floor according to DE-A-3041781.

14A-14E show one of the locking systems as shown in WO 9747834.

15A and 15B show parquet in accordance with US-A-2740167.

16A and 16B show a mechanical locking system for a floorboard according to CA-A-2252791.

17A and 17B show snap-lock systems for parquet according to US-A-5797237.

18a and 18b show a connection system for ceramic tiles according to FR-A-2675174.

19A and 19B show a connection system for floorboards described in JP 7180333 and made by compressing a metal material.

20A and 20B show a connection for a large wall panel according to GB-A-2117813.

21a and 22b schematically show the parallel insert edges of the first preferred embodiment of the floorboard according to the invention.

Fig. 22 schematically illustrates the basic principle of angular inward movement around an upper connecting edge when using the present invention.

23a and 23b schematically show the production of the connecting edge of the floorboard according to the invention.

24A and 24B show a production specific modification of the present invention.

25 shows the snap-in and upward angular movement in combination with the bending of the lower lip as well as variations of the present invention.

Fig. 26 shows a modification of the present invention with a short lip.

27A-27C show the downward and upward angular motion methods.

28A to 28C show a change angular movement method.

29A and 29B illustrate a snap-in method.

FIG. 30 shows how the long sides of the two plates connect with the long sides of the third plate when the two plates are already connected to each other on the short side.

31a and 31b show two connecting floorboards provided with a combined connection according to the invention.

32A-32D show the inward angular motion of the combined connection.

Fig. 33 shows an example of how the long side surface is formed in the parquet.

34 shows an example of how the short side is formed in the parquet.

Fig. 35 shows a detailed example of how the long side connection system is formed in the parquet.

FIG. 36 shows an example of a floorboard according to the invention in which the connection system is designed such that it can be angulated using bending and compression in the connection material.

37A-37C show the floorboard according to the invention.

38A-38D show a four step manufacturing method using the manufacturing method according to the present invention.

39 shows a connection system suitable for compensating for expansion and contraction of the surface layer of the floorboard.

40 shows a modification of the invention with a rigid tongue.

Fig. 41 shows a modification of the invention in which the locking surface forms the upper contact surface.

42A and 42B show an alternative embodiment of the present invention with angular motion and pull as well as a long tongue.

43A-43C show how the connection system is designed to facilitate snap-in.
44 shows the snap-in in angular motion position.

delete

45a and 45b show a connection system according to the invention with a flexible tongue.

46A and 46B show another connection system to the present invention having a split and flexible tongue.

47a and 47b show a connection system according to the invention with a lower lip composed of a material which is partly different from the core.

48A and 48B show a connection system that can be used as a snapping connection in a floorboard locked on all four sides.

49 shows a connection system that can be used, for example, on the short side of the floorboard.

50 shows another connection system that can be used, for example, on the short side of the floorboard.

51A to 51F show an arrangement method.

52A and 52B show the arrangement by a specially designed tool.

Fig. 53 shows the connection of the short side surface.

54A and 54B show the snap-in of the short side.

FIG. 55 illustrates a modification of the invention with a flexible tongue that facilitates snap-in on a short side. FIG.

56A-56E show the snap-in of the outer corner of the short side.

57A-57E show the snap-in of the inner corner of the short side.

A first preferred embodiment of the floorboards 1, 1 ′ provided with a mechanical locking system according to the invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 21A and 21B. For the sake of understanding, the connection system is shown schematically. It can be seen that better functionality can be achieved in other preferred embodiments to be described below.

21a and 21b schematically show a cross-sectional view of the connection between the long side edge 4a of the plate 1 and the opposite long side edge 4b of the other plate 1 '.

The upper side of the plate is essentially positioned in the common surface plane HP and the tops of the connecting edges 4a, 4b connect to each other in the vertical connection plane VP. The mechanical locking system locks the plates against each other in both the vertical direction D1 and in the horizontal direction D2 extending perpendicular to the connection plane VP. However, while placing the floors in parallel rows, one plate 1 ′ can be displaced along the other plate 1 in the direction D2 along the connecting plane VP (see FIG. 3A). This displacement can be used, for example, to lock together floorboards that are positioned in the same row.

In order to connect the two connecting edges perpendicular to the vertical plane VP and parallel to the horizontal plane HP, the edge of the floorboard is in one edge 4a of the floorboard inside the connection plane VP in a known manner. It has a tongue 38 formed in the tongue groove 36 and the other connecting edge portion 4b and protruding beyond the connecting plane VP.

In this embodiment, the plate 1 has a core 30 of wood which supports a surface layer 32 of wood on the front side and a balancing layer 34 on the back side. The plate 1 is rectangular and has a second mechanical locking system on two parallel short sides. Such a locking system may have the same design as the long side locking system, but the locking system on the short side may also be of a different design than the present invention or may be a previously known mechanical locking system.

As an illustrative and non-limiting example, the floorboard may be in the form of a parquet having a thickness of 15 mm, a length of 2.4 m and a width of 0.2 m. However, the present invention can also be used in rectangular parquet or other sized plates.

The core 30 is of lamella type and consists of narrow wood blocks of low cost wood. The surface layer 32 has a thickness of 3-4 mm and can be constructed and varnished of decorative hardwood. The backside balancing layer 34 may consist of a 2mm veneer layer. In some cases, it may be desirable to use different types of wood in different parts of the floorboard for best properties within the individual parts of the floorboard.

As mentioned above, the mechanical locking system according to the invention comprises a tongue groove 36 in one connecting edge 4a of the plate and a tongue 38 on the opposite connecting edge 4b of the plate.

The tongue groove 36 is formed of an upper lip 39 and a lower lip 40 and is in the form of an undercut groove having an opening between the two lips 39, 40.

The different parts of the tongue groove 36 are shown well in FIG. 21B. Tongue grooves are formed in the core and extend from the edge of the floorboard. On the tongue groove there is an upper edge or connecting edge face 41 extending to the surface plane HP. Inside the opening of the tongue groove there is in this case an upper connection or support surface 43 parallel to the surface plane HP. This connection or support surface is an inclined locking surface 43 having a locking angle A with respect to the horizontal plane HP. Inside the locking surface there is a surface portion 46 which forms the upper boundary surface of the undercut portion 35 of the tongue groove. The tongue groove further has a bottom end 48 extending down to the lower lip 40. On the upper side of this lip there is a connection or support surface 50. The outer end of the lower lip has a connecting edge face 52 and in this case extends slightly beyond the connecting plane VP.

The shape of the tongue is also well shown in FIG. 21B. The tongue is made of the material of the core and extends beyond the connecting plane VP when this connecting edge 4b is mechanically connected with the connecting edge 4a of the adjacent floorboard. The connection edge 4b also has a top edge or top connection edge face 61 extending along the connection plane VP down to the root of the tongue 38. The upper side of the root of the tongue has in this case an upper connection or support surface 64 which extends up to the inclined locking surface 65 of the upwards 8 near the end of the tongue. The locking face 65 is a guide surface 66 ending in the upper face 67 of the upwards 8 of the tongue. Following the surface 67 is an inclined surface that can act as a guide surface 68. This inclined surface extends to the end 69 of the tongue. At the lower end of the end 69 there is a guide surface 70 and a connection or support surface 71 which extends obliquely downward to the lower edge of the tongue. The support surface 71 is such that when these two plates are mechanically connected and the upper connecting edge surfaces 41 and 61 of the plates are connected to each other, these upper surfaces are positioned within the same surface plane HP and perpendicular to it. It is used to cooperate with the support surface 50 of the lower lip to meet in the facing connection plane VP. The tongue has a lower connection edge surface 72 extending to the lower side.

In this embodiment there are respectively tongue grooves and individually connected or supporting surfaces 43, 64 on the tongues, which are connected to each other in a locked state and cooperate with the lower lip and the lower supporting surfaces 50, 71 on the tongues respectively, respectively. The lock is provided in a direction D1 perpendicular to the HP. In another embodiment, which will be described below, as a locking surface for locking together in a direction D2 parallel to the surface plane HP and as a support surface for preventing movement in a direction D2 perpendicular to the surface plane. Make a face (45, 65) to use. In the embodiment according to FIGS. 21A and 21B, the locking surfaces 45, 65 and the connecting surfaces 43, 64 cooperate as upper support surfaces in the system.

As can be seen in the figure, the tongue 38 extends beyond the connecting plane VP and has an upwards 8 at the free outer or end 69. The tongue is also mechanically connected so that the two plates meet the locking surface 45 in the tongue groove 36 of the adjacent floorboard when the front face is positioned in the same surface plane HP and meets perpendicularly to the connection plane VP. It has a locking surface 65 which is formed to cooperate.

As can be seen from FIG. 21B, the tongue 38 has a surface portion 52 between the locking surface 51 and the connection plane VP. When the two floorboards are connected, the surface portion 52 connects with the surface portion 45 of the upper lip 8. To facilitate the insertion of the tongue into the undercut groove by inward angular motion or snapping-in, the tongue is inclined surface 66 between the locking surface 65 and the surface portion 57 as shown in FIGS. 21A and 21B. ) Moreover, the inclined surface 68 may be positioned between the surface portion 57 and the end 69 of the tongue. The inclined surface 66 can act as a guide by having an inclination angle with respect to the surface plane smaller than the inclination angle A of the locking surfaces 43 and 51.

The support surface 71 of the tongue is essentially parallel to the surface plane HP in this embodiment. The tongue has an inclined surface 70 between the support surface of the tongue and the end 69.

According to the invention the lower lip 40 has a support surface 50 for cooperating with a corresponding support surface 71 on the tongue 38 at a distance from the bottom end 48 of the undercut groove. When the two floorboards connect with each other, there is a connection between the support surfaces 50, 71 and the connection of the upper lip 39 or between the support surface 43 and the corresponding connection or support surface 64 of the tongue. In this way, the plate is locked in a direction D1 perpendicular to the surface plane HP.

Viewed parallel to the surface plane HP according to the invention, at least a major part of the bottom end 48 of the undercut groove is located farther from the connection plane VP than at the outer end or end 69 of the tongue 38. It is. This design greatly simplifies manufacturing and makes it easy to displace one floorboard relative to another along the connection plane.

Another important feature of the mechanical locking system according to the invention is that all of the lower ribs 40 which are connected to the core 30 when viewed at point C (where the surface plane HP and the connection plane VP intersect). The part lies outside the plane LP2. This plane LP2 is located farther from the point C than the locking plane LP1 parallel to the plane LP2 and tangent to the undercut groove 36 and the locking surfaces 45, 65 of the tongue 38. Wherein these locking surfaces are most inclined with respect to the surface plane HP. With this design, as described in more detail below, the undercut groove can be made by using a disk-shaped rotary cutting tool for machining the edges of the floorboards.

Another important feature of the mechanical locking system according to the invention is that the tongue 38 and the upper and lower ribs 39, 40 of the connecting edges 4a, 5b have one floorboard connected to the surface plane HP and the connection plane. It is designed to disassemble the two mechanically connected floorboards by pivoting upwards about the other around the pivot center close to the intersection point (C) between (VP), since the tongue of this floorboard is pivoted from undercut grooves of the other floorboards.

In the embodiment according to FIGS. 21A and 21B, this separation is possible by slight downward bending of the lower lip 40. However, in another preferred embodiment of the present invention, downward bending of the lower lip is not necessary in connection with the connection and disconnection of the floorboard.

In the embodiment according to FIGS. 21a and 21b, the connection of two floorboards according to the invention can be carried out in three different ways.

In the first way, the plate 1 'is placed on the foundation and the narrow end 69 of the tongue 38 is inserted into the opening of the undercut groove 36 and then moved towards the previously placed plate 1'. . The floorboard 1 'is then angularly upwardly in contact with the tops 41, 61 of the plates on both sides of the connecting plane VP. While maintaining this contact, the plate is angled downward by pivoting around the pivot center C. FIG. Insertion slides the inclined surface 66 of the tongue along the locking surface 45 of the upper lip 39 while the inclined surface 70 of the tongue 38 rests against the outer edge of the upper side of the lower lip 40. It happens by sliding towards. The locking system can then be opened by angling the floorboard 1 ′ by pivoting about the pivot center C close to the intersection between the surface plane HP and the connection plane VP.

In a second way, a new plate with tongue grooved connection edges 4a is moved together towards the connection edge 4b with tongues of previously arranged plates to provide a locking-together together. Then, pivot the new plate upward until contact is obtained between the tops 41, 61 of the plate near the intersection between the surface plane and the connection plane, and then until the plate reaches the final locking position. Pivot the tongue and groove downwards together. According to the following description the floorboards can also be connected by moving one plate to an angularly upward position towards the other plate.

In a third way, in the method of joining the floorboard according to the invention, this embodiment uses a locking element or upwards 8 as the new plate 1 'is horizontally displaced towards the previously placed plate 1. The exciting tongue 38 is inserted into the tongue groove 36 and the lower flexible lip 40 is bent slightly downward to snap the locking element 8 to the undercut portion of the tongue groove. In this case, the decomposition also takes place by upward angular motion as described above.

In a snap-in connection, also slight upward bending of the upper lip 39 can occur when it is possible to compress to some extent all the parts in the tongue and the grooves 36 that are in contact with each other during the snap-in. This can be used to facilitate snapping-in and form the best connection system.

In order to facilitate the possibility of displacement in manufacturing, inward angular motion, upward angular motion, snapping-in and locking positions and to minimize the risk of cracking, all unworked surfaces form airtight upper connection edges and vertical and horizontal connections It will not be in contact with each other in the locking position and suitably also during locking and unlocking. This allows manufacturing without requiring high errors within these connection portions and reduces the friction of lateral displacements along the connection edges. Examples of surfaces and parts of the connection system that are not in contact with each other in the locked position are 46-67, 48-69, 50-70 and 52-72.

The connection system according to the preferred embodiment may consist of several combinations of materials. The upper lip 39 may be made of a rigid bottom that is part of the rigid and hard upper surface layer 32 and the core 30. The upper lip 40 may consist of the same soft top 30 and also the bottom soft portion 34, which may be of a different kind of wood. This can be used to provide a connection system utilizing these material properties. The locking element is therefore positioned close to the upper rigid and rigid part according to the invention, and therefore here only bendable and compressible to a limited extent, while the snapping function is formed at the upper soft and flexible part. Note that the connection system can also be made in homogeneous floorboards.

Figure 22 shows schematically the basic principle of inward angular motion around point C (upper connecting edge) when the present invention is used. Figure 22 shows schematically how the locking system can angularly inward around the upper connection edge. In this inward angular motion, the part of the connecting system is in the prior art along a circular arc and has a center C close to the intersection between the surface plane HP and the connecting plane VP. Tongues and grooves can be formed in many different ways if large clearances between all parts of the connection system are allowed, or if substantial changes are possible during inward angular motion. On the other hand, if the connection system must have a contact surface that prevents vertical and horizontal separation without any clearance between the connection or the support surface, and if material deformation is not possible, the connection system should be constructed in accordance with the following principles.

The upper part of the connection system is formed as follows. C1B has a center C at the top at the top connecting edges 41, 61 which in the preferred embodiment intersects the point of contact between the top of the tongue 38 and the top lip 39 at point P2. It is an arc. All other contact points between P2, P3, P4 and P5 between the upper lip 39 and the upper portion 8 of the tongue 38 and between the intersection point P2 and the vertical plane VP are all on this arc C1B or While positioned inside, all other contact points from P2 to P1 between the upper lip 39 and the top of the tongue 38 and between the intersection point P2 and the outside of the tongue 38 are such arcs C1B. It is positioned on or outside. These conditions must be satisfied for all contact points. For contact point P5 with arc C1A, in this case all other contact points between P1 and P5 are located outside the arc C1A, and for contact point P1, all other contact points between P1 and P5. Is located inside the arc C1C.

The lower part of the connection system is formed according to the corresponding principle. C2B is an arc concentric with arc C1A and in this preferred embodiment intersects the point of contact between the lower lip 40 and the bottom of tongue 38 at point P7. All other contact points between the lower lip 40 and the lower part 8 of the tongue 38 and between P7, P8 and P9 between the intersection point P7 and the vertical plane are positioned on or outside this arc C2B. On the other hand, all other contact points between P6 and P7 between the lower lip 40 and the lower part of the tongue 38 and between the intersection point P7 and the outside of the tongue 38 are on or inside this arc C2B. It is positioned. The same applies to the point of contact P6 with the arc C2A.

A connection system constructed in accordance with the present preferred embodiment can have good inward angular motion properties. It can be easily combined with the top connection or support surfaces 43, 64 that are parallel to the horizontal plane HP and can therefore provide good vertical locking.

Figures 23a and 23b show how the connection system according to figures 21a and 21b can be produced. Normally, the surface 2 of the floorboard 1 according to the prior art has a very large accuracy past a number of milling cutters, for example having a tool diameter of 80-300 mm and which can be set at the best angle to the horizontal plane of the plate. It is positioned down on the ball bearing chain in the milling machine carrying the plate. However, to facilitate understanding and comparison with other figures, the floorboard shows that its surface plane HP is facing upward. FIG. 23a shows how the first tool with tool position TP1 makes a traditional tongue groove. In this case, the tool is operated at 0 °, ie tool angle TA1 parallel to the horizontal plane. Rotation axis RA1 is perpendicular to HP. The undercut is made by the second tool, where the position TP2 and the design of the tool are such that the undercut 35 can be formed without the tool affecting the shape of the lower end 40. In this case, the tool has an angle TA2 equal to the angle of the locking surface 45 in the undercut 35. This manufacturing method is possible by placing the locking plane LP1 at this constant distance from the connection plane into which the tool can be inserted into the previously formed tongue groove. Therefore, the thickness of the tool cannot exceed the distance between the two planes LP1 and LP2, as mentioned in connection with FIGS. 21A and 21B. This manufacturing method is prior art and does not constitute part of the manufacturing method according to the present invention which will be described below.

24A and 24B show another variation of the present invention. This embodiment is characterized in that the connection system is formed completely according to the basic principle of inward angular motion around the upper connection edge as described above. The locking surfaces 45, 65 and the lower support surfaces 50, 71 are planar in this embodiment, but they may have other shapes. C1 and C2 are two circular arcs with a center C at the upper ends of adjacent connecting edges 41, 61. The smaller arc C1 is tangent to the lower contact point nearest the vertical plane between the locking surfaces 45 and 65 at the point P4 having a tangent TL1 corresponding to the locking plane LP1. The locking surfaces 45, 65 have the same slope as this tangent. The larger arc C2 is tangent to the upper contact point between the lower support surfaces 50, 71 closest to the interior 48 of the tongue at point P7, which has a locking plane LP2. The support surfaces 50, 71 have the same slope as this tangent line.

All the contact points between the upper lip 39 and the tongue 38 positioned between the point P4 and the vertical plane VP satisfy the condition that they are positioned inside or on the arc C1, All the contact points (in this embodiment, only the locking surfaces 45 and 65) positioned between the interior 48 and the point P4 of the satisfies the state of being positioned on C1 or on the outside. The corresponding state is satisfied with respect to the contact surface between the lower lip 40 and the tongue 38. All contact points between the lower lip 40 and the tongue 38 positioned between the point P7 and the vertical plane VP (in this case only the lower support surfaces 50, 71) are circular arcs C2. Although positioned outside or on the side, all contact points positioned between the interior 48 of the tongue and the point P7 are positioned on C2 or on the inside.

This embodiment shows in particular that all the contact surfaces between the contact point P4 and the connecting plane VP, in this case the point P5 and the inner groove 48 of the tongue groove, respectively, are positioned on the inner and outer sides of the arc C1, respectively. And therefore is not located on the arc C1. The same applies to contact point P7, where all the contact points between P7 and the vertical plane VP, in this case point P8 and the interior 48 of the tongue groove, respectively, are the outer and inner surfaces of arc C2, respectively. Is positioned at and is therefore not located on arc C2. As is apparent from the part shown by the dashed line in Fig. 24A, if the connection system satisfies this condition, the inward angular motion can be essentially terminated by locking the plates with a tight fit or press fit when the final horizontal position is taken. It can be designed to take place leisurely during the entire angular movement. Therefore, the present invention can combine inward angular motion and upward angular motion without resistance and can be locked with high quality connections. If the lower support surfaces 71, 50 are made at a slightly lower angle, the connection system is the only two described above, the point P4 on the upper lip and the point P7 on the lower part of the tongue until the final locking takes place. During the angular motion and during the entire upward angular motion until the plates dismantle from each other, it may be provided in the case of the point of contact between the tongue groove 36 and the tongue 38. Effortlessly or simply locking with line contact is a great advantage because the connection system does not strike and tighten parts of the system that are at risk of damage, but with less friction and the plate is easily angularly inward and angularly upward. In particular, press fitting in the vertical direction is very important in terms of strength. If there is a clearance between the connection or support surfaces, the plate, under tension, slides along the locking surface until the lower connection or support surface is positioned by press fit. The free space therefore arises from both the connection gap and the difference in level between the upper connection edges. For example, with airtight or press fit, high strength is achieved if the locking surface has an angle of about 40 ° to the surface plane HP and the lower connection or support surface has an angle of about 15 ° to the surface plane HP. Can be said.

The locking plane LP1 has a locking angle A in the horizontal plane HP of about 39 ° in FIG. 24A, while the support plane TL2 has a support angle of about 14 ° along the support surfaces 50, 71. (VLA). The angle difference between LP1 and support plane TL2 is 25 degrees. High locking angles and large differences in angles between locking and supporting angles must be realized. This is because this results in a large horizontal locking force. The locking surface and the supporting surface can be made arcuate or stepped with some angle or the like, but this makes manufacturing difficult. As mentioned above, the locking surface may also constitute an upper support surface or may help to separate the upper support surface.

Although the locking and supporting surfaces have contact points that deviate somewhat from these basic principles, they are such that the connecting system is adjusted so that the contact points or surfaces are small with respect to the floor thickness and the properties of the plates in the form of compression, stretching and bending are very small between the contact surfaces. Maximum use in combination with space can be angulated inward at these upper connecting edges. This can be used to increase the locking angle and increase the difference in angle between the locking angle and the support angle.

The basic principle of inward angular motion therefore shows that the main parts are locking surfaces 45 and 65 and lower support surfaces 50 and 71. Further, for example, the upper support surfaces 43, 64, the guide 44 of the locking groove, the guide 66 and the top surface 67 of the locking element 8, the tongue groove 36. It is shown that there is a large degree of freedom for the design of the inner 48 and 49 of the lower lip 40, the guide and the outer 51 of the lower lip, as well as the outer / lower 69, 70, 72 of the tongue. They preferably deviate from the shape of the two arcs C1, C2, and there is a free space between all parts except the upper support surfaces 43, 64, so that during the inward angular and upward angular movements as well as in the locked position The parts are not in contact with each other. This can be formed without large error conditions and contributes to the safety of inward and upward angular movements and also low frictional forces in connection with the connection plane VP (side displacement of the connected plate along the direction D3). The free space means that the connecting portion does not have any functional meaning to prevent displacement along the connecting edge and vertical or horizontal displacement in the locked position, therefore loose wood fibers and small deformable The contact point can be considered equivalent to the free surface.

The angular movement around the upper connecting edge is facilitated, as described above, if the connecting system is configured such that when the connecting edges of the plates are pressed together, in particular there is a small clearance between the locking surfaces 45, 65. Can be. The constitutive clearance also facilitates lateral displacement in the locking position, reduces the risk of cracking and gives greater freedom in manufacturing, permits inward angular movement to the locking surface with a slope greater than the tangent (LP1), Contributes to compensating for expansion of the connecting edge. Above all, due to this small clearance and also by the angle at which the sliding at the tensile load position is essentially smaller than the angle of the lower support surface, ie the locking angle, the clearance is provided between conventional connection or support surfaces. Rather than space, it creates a significantly smaller gap on the upper side of the plate and a significantly smaller vertical displacement. This minimum clearance between the locking surfaces can be very small if necessary, for example only 0.01 mm. In the normal connection position, free space may not exist. That is, it can be zero, and the connecting system can be configured so that the free space only appears when the free space is pressed together with the connecting edge of the plate to the maximum. As is known, larger clearances of about 0.05 mm also lead to very high quality connections, since very little connection gap is found in the surface plane HP and can occur within the tensile load position.
It should be noted that the connection system can be configured without any free space between the locking surfaces.

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The clearance between the locking surface and the compression of the material and the bending of the connection part at the locking surface are such that the connection system is easily subjected to tensile load and the connection gap at the upper connection edges 41, 61 is less than the predetermined load of the connection system. Since it is measured, it can be easily measured directly. Strength means that the connection system is not broken or snapped-away. Suitable tensile load is about 50% of strength. As a non-limiting standard value, it can be said that the long side connection has a strength in excess of 300 kg per running meter of the connection. The short side connections will still have greater strength. Parquet with a suitable connection system according to the invention can withstand a tensile load of 1000 kg per running meter of the connection. The high quality connection system should have a connection gap at the upper connection edges 41 and 61 of about 0.1-0.2 mm when subjected to a tensile load at about half of the maximum strength. The connection gap is reduced when the load stops. By changing the tensile load, the relationship between the clearance and the material deformation in construction can be determined. In the case of low tensile loads, the connection gap is essentially a measure of the clearance in construction. In the case of high tensile loads, the connection gap is increased by material deformation. Since the connection system may also consist of a press fit between the locking surface and the support surface and the built-in initial stress, the above-mentioned connection gap cannot be seen in the case of the above-mentioned load.

The clearance between the locking face in combination with the geometry of the connection system, the compression of the material around the upper connection edges 41, 61 can also be measured by sawing the connection in the transverse direction of the connection edge. Since the connection system is made by linear machining, it will have the same profile along the entire connection edge. The only exception is the manufacturing error of the lack of parallelism due to the fact that the plate can be selectively rotated or displaced vertically or horizontally as it passes through other milling tools in the machine. In normal use, however, the connection system shows a very reliable picture of the samples from each connection edge. After grading the sample and washing with loose fibers so that a sharp profile is visible, the sample can be analyzed for connection geometry, material compression, bending, and the like. For example, the two connecting parts can be compressed by a force that does not damage the connecting system, in particular the upper connecting edges 41, 61. The clearance between the locking surface and the connection geometry can then be measured with a measuring microscope with an accuracy of 0.01 or less depending on the equipment. If a safe and modern machine is used in manufacturing, it is usually sufficient to measure the profile within two smaller areas of the floorboard in determining the average clearance, the joint geometry, and the like.

All measurements should be taken when the floorboard is adjusted to steady state humidity of approximately 45%.

Also in this case, the locking element or upwards 8 of the tongue has a guide 66. The guide of the locking element comprises a part having an inclination of the locking surface and in this case also an inclination lower than the inclination of the tangent TL1. The proper inclination of the tool producing the locking surface 45 is indicated in this embodiment by TA2, such as tangent TL1.

The locking surface 45 of the tongue groove also has a guide 44 which cooperates with the guide 66 of the tongue during an inward angular motion. In addition, the guide 44 includes portions having an inclination smaller than the locking surface.

At the front of the lower lip 40 there is a round guide 51 which cooperates with the radius of the lower part of the tongue connected to the lower connecting surface 71 at point P7 and facilitates angular inward movement.

The lower lip 40 may be elastic. In connection with the inward angular motion, a small amount of compression also occurs at the point of contact between the lower part of the tongue and the lower lip 40. In general, this compression is much smaller than it would be with respect to the locking surface. This is because the lower lip 40 may have considerably better elastic properties than the upper lip 39 and the tongue 38, respectively. In connection with inward and upward angular motion, the lip can bend downward. The bending capability of only one tenth of a millimeter or more or more, with material compression and less contact surface, gives a good chance of forming lower support surfaces 50, 71, for example, so that it has a smaller slope than the tangent TL2. And at the same time can easily make inward angular motion. Flexible lips can be combined at significantly higher locking angles. If the locking angle is small, a large amount of tensile load will push the lip down, thus resulting in a level difference between the connection gap and the connection edge which is undesirable.

Both tongue grooves 36 and 38 have guides 42, 51 and 68, 70 that guide the tongue into the groove and facilitate snapping-in and inward angular motion.

FIG. 25 shows a variation of the invention, where the lower lip 40 is shorter than the upper lip 39 and is therefore positioned at a distance from the vertical plane VP. The advantage is that there is greater freedom in designing the locking groove 45 at a high tool angle TA, while at the same time quite large tools can be used. To facilitate snapping-in by downward bending of the lower end 40, the tongue groove 36 is made deeper than the required space for the end of the tongue 38. The dashed connection edge 4b shows how the parts of the system are related to each other by connecting inward angular motion around the upper connection edge, while the dotted connection edge 4b is connected by the connection edge 4b. Since it is displaced in a straight line towards the edge 4a, it shows how the parts of the system are related in connection with the snap-in of the tongue with tongue grooves.

Fig. 26 shows a further modification of the basic principle described above. The connection system here is formed of a locking surface which is angularly rotated by 90 ° to the surface plane HP and is considerably more angular than the tangent TL1. However, this good locking surface is openable by upward angular motion, since the locking surface is very small and the connection is essentially locked only by line contact. If the core is hard, this locking system can be high strength. The design of the locking element and the locking surface allows for a slight snap-in of the downward bending of the lower lip as shown by the dashed line.

27A to 27C show a positioning method by inward angular motion. For ease of explanation, one plate is referred to as the groove plate and the other plate is referred to as the tongue plate. In fact, the plates are the same. Possible arrangements include placing the tongue flat on the subfloor, either loose or depending on where the plate is positioned within the placement process / row, in connection with another plate on one, two or three sides. The upper lip 39 of the groove plate is partly placed on the outside of the tongue 38 so that the upper connecting edges contact each other. The groove plate then rotates down towards the subfloor and is pressed against the connecting edge of the tongue until the final locking occurs along FIG. 27C.

The sides of the floorboard sometimes bend to some extent. The tongue is then pressed downwards until the portion of the upper lip 39 contacts the portion of the upper portion or the portion of the tongue locking element 8 and the lower lip 40 contacts the portion of the lower portion of the tongue. Rotate In this way, any bending of the sides is straightened and the plate can be angularly locked to its final position.

27A-27C show that inward angular motion can occur effortlessly or alternatively only in contact between the top and the tongue of the tongue groove, or in line contact between the tongue groove and the top and bottom of the tongue. Line contact takes place at points P4 and P7 in this embodiment. Inward angular motion can easily occur without significant resistance and can be terminated with a very compact fit that locks the floorboard vertically and horizontally with high quality connections to the final position.

In summary, the downward angular motion can actually be performed as follows. The groove plate is moved at an angle toward the tongue plate, the tongue groove passing through a portion of the tongue. The groove plate is pressed towards the tongue plate and angularly incrementally downward, for example using compression at the center of the plate and then at both edges. If the upper connecting edges are brought into close proximity or contact with each other over the whole plate, and the plate takes an angle to the subfloor, a final downward angular motion can be achieved.

When the plates are connected, they can be displaced in the locking position in the direction of the connection, ie parallel to the connection edges.

28A-28C show how the corresponding arrangement is made by angularly moving the tongue plate into the groove plate.

29A and 29B show the connection method by snap-in. When the plates move horizontally with each other, the tongue is guided into the groove. During continuous compression, the lower lip 40 is bent and the locking element 8 snaps into the locking groove or undercut 35. A good connection system illustrates the basic principle of snapping-in, where the lower lip is flexible. The connection system, of course, must be adjusted to the bending capacity of the material and the depth of the tongue groove 36, the height of the locking element 8 and the thickness of the upper lip 40 and dimensioned to be snap-in viable. The basic principle of the connection system according to the invention, which is more convenient for use in materials with low flexibility and bendability, will be apparent from the description below and from FIG. 34.

The described arrangement method can be used selectively and in combination with each other on all four sides. After arranging one side, the side displacement usually occurs in the locked position.

In some cases, in connection with the inward angular movement of the short side, for example as a first actuation, the upward angular movement of the two plates usually takes place. FIG. 30 shows the first plate 1, the upwardly angulated second plate 2a and the new upwardly angular third plate 2b, already on the short side of the third plate 2b. Is connected. After the new plate 2b is angularly upward and displaced laterally along the short side of the second plate 2a in the short side locking position, the two plates 2a, 2b with respect to the first plate 1, It can be connected angularly downward and locked on the long side. To implement this method, when the new plate 2b is displaced in parallel with the second plate 2a and when the second plate 2a has a part of the tongue partially inserted into the tongue groove, and the top connection It is required that the tongue of the new plate 2b can be inserted into the tongue groove when the edge is in contact with the upper connecting edge of the first plate 1. 30 shows that the connection system can be made with this design of tongue grooves, tongues and locking elements where this is possible.

All placement methods require displacement in the locked position. One exception to the lateral displacement in the locked position is when several plates are connected on the short side, and then the entire row is laid at the same time. But this is not a reasonable deployment method.

31A and 31B show a portion of a floorboard provided with a combined connection. Tongue groove 36 and tongue 38 may be formed according to one of the embodiments described above. The underside of the groove plate has a known strip 6 with a locking element 8b and a locking surface 10. The tongue side has a locking groove 35 according to a known embodiment. In this embodiment, the locking element 8b with a fairly large guide 9 will function as an extra guide during the first part of the inward angular motion and facilitate the first part of the inward angular motion when positioning takes place. And which banana shape is straightened. The locking element 8b causes automatic positioning and compression of the floorboard until the guide of the tongue connects with the locking groove 35 and a final locking can take place. The deployment is quite easy and the connection will be very strong by the cooperation of the two locking systems. Such connections are particularly convenient for connecting large floor surfaces in public rooms. In the example shown, the strip 6 is attached to the groove side, but can also be attached to the tongue side. The positioning of the strip 6 is therefore optional. Moreover, the connection can be both snap-in and upward angular motion and can be laterally displaced in the locked position.

Of course, these connections can optionally be used in other variations on the long side and short sides, and can optionally be combined with all of the connection variations and other known systems described herein.

A convenient combination is a snapping system on one side without aluminum strips. This facilitates manufacturing in some cases. Strips attached after manufacture also have the advantage of being able to form part of the lower lip 40 or even the whole. This gives a very high degree of freedom with the cutting tool, for example forming the upper lip 39 and forming the locking surface at a high locking angle. The locking system according to the present embodiment can of course be made snappable and also with an optional width strip, which does not protrude outwardly out of the upper lip 39, for example as in the case of the embodiment according to FIG. 50. It can be made into a strip 6. The strip need not be continuous over the entire length of the connection, but may consist of several small parts attached with spaces between both the long and short sides.

Since the locking elements 8b and their locking grooves 35 can be formed at different angles, heights and radii which can be arbitrarily selected, they prevent separation or facilitate inward angular movement or snap-in.

32A-32D show how inward angular motion is achieved in four steps. The wide strip 6 allows the tongue 38 to be easily placed on the strip at the beginning of the inward angular motion. The tongue then connects with the downward angular motion, essentially sliding automatically into the tongue groove 36. The corresponding arrangement can be achieved because the strip 6 is inserted under the tongue. All of the deployment functions described above may also be used in the floorboard in the present preferred combination system.

33 and 34 show the production-specific and best connection system, especially for floorboards with a core of wood. 33 shows how the long sides can be formed in the ridges. In this case, the connection system is in particular best for inward angular motion, upward angular motion and a small amount of material waste. 34 shows how a short side can be formed in the parquet. In this case, the connection system is best for snap-in and high strength. These differences are as follows. The locking element of the tongue 38 and the short side 5a is longer when measured in the horizontal plane. This gives a higher shear strength in the locking element 8. If tongue groove 36 is deeper on short side 5b, this helps to bend the lower lip significantly downward. The locking element 8 is at a lower position in the vertical direction on the short side 5a, which in conjunction with snapping reduces the requirement for downward bending of the lower lip. The locking surfaces 45 and 65 have a higher locking angle and the lower connection surface has a lower angle. The guides of the long sides 4a, 4b in the locking element and the locking groove are larger for best guidance, while at the same time the contact surface between the locking surfaces is smaller because the requirements of strength are lower for the short sides. The connecting system on the long side and the short side can be composed of different materials or material properties at the upper lip, the lower lip and the tongue, which in terms of function and strength, have different desired properties for the long and short sides respectively. It can be adjusted to contribute to the best.

35 shows in detail how a floorboard connection system may be formed on the long side. Of course, the principles described herein can be used for both long and short sides. Only the parts which were not explained in detail before will now be described.

The locking surfaces 45, 65 have an angle HLA greater than the tangent TL1. This gives a higher horizontal locking force. Since such overbending should be adjusted for the wood of the core and best for compression and flexible stiffness, inward and upward angular motion can still occur. The contact surface of the locking surface is minimized and the properties of the core must be adjusted.

When the plates connect, the small part, preferably less than half the size of the locking element in the vertical direction, forms the contact surface of the locking element 8 and the locking groove 14. The main part constitutes a rounded, inclined or bent guide that is not in contact with each other during inward and upward angular motion in the connecting position.

The inventors have a very small contact surface, for example with respect to the floor thickness T between the locking surfaces 45, 65 of several tens of millimeters, which can lead to a very high locking force and this locking force is a horizontal plane (i.e. a surface plane) It has been found that the shear strength of the locking element in HP)) may be exceeded. This can be used to provide the locking surface with an angle exceeding the tangent TL1.

In this case, the locking surfaces 45, 65 are planar and parallel. This is particularly good for the locking surface 55 of the locking groove. If the tool is displaced parallel to the locking surface 45, this provides a higher quality connection more easily without affecting the vertical distance to the connection plane VP. Of course, small deviations from the planar form can give equivalent results.

Correspondingly, the lower support surfaces 50, 71 are essentially planar and have an angle VLA 2, which in this case is greater than the tangent TL2 to the point P7, the point P7. Is positioned on the support surface 71 closest to the bottom of the tongue groove. This essentially results in a leisurely inward angular movement during the entire angular movement. The support surfaces 50, 71 are also quite small with respect to the floor thickness T. These support surfaces are also essentially planar. The planar support surface facilitates manufacture in accordance with the principles described above.

The support surfaces 50, 71 can also be made at an angle smaller than the inclination angle of the tangent TL2. In this case, the angular movement can be caused in part by the downward bending of the lower lip 40 and the degree of compression of the material. If the lower support surfaces 50, 71 are smaller with respect to the floor thickness T, the likelihood of forming surfaces with angles larger and smaller than the tangents TL1, TL2 is increased.

FIG. 36 shows the upward angular movement of the plate with the geometry according to FIG. 35, so that its locking surface has a slope greater than the tangent line TL1, and its supporting surface has a slope less than the tangent line TL2 and at the same time These faces are quite small. And in conjunction with the inward and upward angular movements, the overlap at points P4 and P7 will be very small. The point P can be angularly moved depending on the combination of the material being compressed at the upper connecting edges K1, K2 and at the points P4, K3, K4, while at the same time the upper lip 39 and the tongue 38. Can be bent from the contact point P4 in the directions B1 and B2.

The upper support surfaces 43, 64 are preferably perpendicular to the connection plane VP. Fabrication is very easy in the case of a plane in which the upper and lower support surfaces are parallel and preferably horizontal.

Referring once again to FIG. 35, arc C1 shows, for example, that the upper support surface can be formed in many different ways inside this arc C1 without disturbing the possibility of angular motion and snapping. . In the same way, arc C2 can be formed in many different ways, according to the previous good principles, inside and outside of the tongue without disturbing the possibility of angular movement and snapping.

The upper lip 39 is thicker than the lower lip 40 as a whole. This is an advantage in terms of strength. Moreover, this has the advantage that it can be connected with parquet, resulting in a thicker surface layer of hard wood.

S1-S5 of the figure show areas in which the connection surface on both sides is not in contact with each other at least within the connection position, but preferably also during the inward angular motion. The contact between the tongue and the tongue groove in these areas S1-S5 improves the locking only at the edge in the D1 direction and does not improve the locking at all in the D1 direction. However, contact prevents inward angular motion and lateral displacement, and in conjunction with manufacturing causes unnecessary error problems and increases undesirable consequences such as cracking risk and plate expansion.

The tool angle TA indicated as TA4 in FIG. 38D forms the locking surface 44 of the undercut 35 and operates at the same angle as the angle of the locking surface and is positioned inside the vertical plane towards the tongue groove. The portion of has a width perpendicular to the tool angle TA indicated by TT. The angle TA and the width TT partially determine the possibility of forming the exterior 52 of the lower lip 40.

Many ratios and angles are important for the best manufacturing method, function, cost and strength.

The contact surface size shall be minimal. This reduces friction and facilitates displacement, locking inward angulation and snap-in in the locked position, simplifies manufacturing and reduces the risk of expansion problems and cracking. In a preferred example, up to 30% of the surface portion of the tongue 38 is in contact with the tongue groove 36. The contact surfaces of the locking surfaces 45 and 65 are only 2% of the floor thickness T in this embodiment, and the lower connecting surface only has a contact surface of 10% of the floor thickness T. As described above, the locking system has a plurality of regions S1-S5 which make up the free surface without contacting each other in this embodiment. The space between these free surfaces and the remaining surfaces of the connection system may be filled with glue, sealants, other types of fillers, lubricants, and the like within the scope of the present invention. The free surface here means the shape of the surface in the connection system obtained by connecting with the machining by each cutting tool.

The connection has an airtight fitting, and the locking surfaces 45 and 65 can prevent horizontal separation even if they have an angle HLA in the horizontal plane HP which is greater than zero. However, the tensile strength of the connection system is large when this locking angle is greater and there is an angular difference between the locking angle HLA of the locking surfaces 45, 65 and the connection angle VLA2 of the lower support surfaces 50, 71. Increases. The connection angle is smaller than the locking angle. If high strength is not required, the locking surface can be formed with respect to the lower connection surface at a small angle and at a small difference in angle.

For a good connection in the floating floor, the locking angle (HLA) and the angular difference (HLA-VLA2) to the lower support surface should be approximately 20 °. Good strength is still obtained if the locking angle HLA and the difference in angle HLA-VLA2 are for example about 30 °. In the preferred embodiment according to FIG. 35, the locking angle is 50 ° and the angle of the support surface is 20 °. As shown in the previous embodiment, the connection system according to the invention can be formed by still making the difference between the locking angle and the angle still larger.

A large number of tests were conducted at different locking and connecting angles. These tests demonstrate that high quality connection systems can be obtained at locking angles between 40 ° and 45 ° and connection angles between 0 ° and 25 °. It should also be noted that other ratios can also bring satisfactory functionality.

The horizontal degree PA of the tongue should exceed one third of the thickness T of the floorboard, preferably about 0.5 * T. In general, this is necessary so that a strong locking element 8 with a guide is formed and sufficient material can be made available in the upper lip 39 between the locking surface 65 and the vertical plane VP.

The horizontal degree PA of the tongue is divided into two essentially equivalent parts PA1, PA2, where PA1 consists of a locking element and the main part of PA2 consists of a support surface 64. The horizontal degree PA1 of the locking element should not be less than 0.2 times the floor thickness. The upper support surface 64 should not be too large, especially on the long side of the floorboard. Otherwise, the friction associated with the lateral displacement may be too high. In order to be able to make a reasonable production, the depth G of the tongue groove should be 2% deeper than the projection PA of the tongue from the connecting plane VP. The smallest distance of the upper lip to the floor surface adjacent to the locking groove 35 should be greater than the smallest distance of the lower lip between the lower support surface 71 and the rear side of the floorboard. The tool width TT should exceed 0.1 times the floor thickness T. 2

37A-37C show the floorboard according to the invention. This embodiment specifically shows that the connection system on the short side can be composed of several different materials and material combinations 30b and 30c, which can also differ from the long side connection material 30. For example, the short side tongue groove 36 may have a different property than the long side core, for example, and may be made of harder and more flexible wood than the tongue 38, which may be hard and rigid. . It is possible to select a kind of wood 30b that is more flexible than a kind of wood 30c on the short side with the tongue groove 36, for example on the other short side on which the tongue is formed. This is particularly convenient for parquet with laminate cores whose upper and lower sides are made of different types of wood and whose cores are composed of blocks to be glued together. This structure increases the likelihood of altering the composition of the material in order to best function, strength and manufacturing cost.

It is also possible to change the material along the length of one side. Thus, for example, a block positioned between two short sides can be of various kinds of wood or material, so some of them can be selected to contribute to suitable properties of improving placement, strength and the like. Different properties can also be obtained with different fiber orientations on the long side and the short side, and also plastic material can be used on the short side, for example on different parts of the long side. If the floorboards and parts of their cores consist of, for example, plywood with several layers, these layers have both different properties for strength, flexibility, and processability, with both the upper lip, tongue and lower lip on both the long and short sides. It can be chosen to have parts with different compositions, fiber orientations, and the like, which can give.

38A-38D illustrate a manufacturing method according to the present invention. In the illustrated embodiment, the production of the connecting edge and the tongue groove takes place in four steps. The tool used has a tool diameter that exceeds the floor thickness. The tool is used to form an undercut groove at a large locking angle in a tongue groove with a lower lip, the tongue groove extending beyond the undercut groove.

To simplify the understanding and comparison with the previously described connection system, the edge of the plate is described as an upward facing floor surface. Normally, however, the plate is positioned such that these surfaces face downward during processing.

The first tool TP1 is a rough cutter operating at an angle TA1 with respect to the horizontal plane. The second tool TP2 can operate horizontally and form upper and lower support surfaces. The third tool TA3 can operate essentially vertically but can also operate at any angle and forms the upper connection edge.

An important tool is the tool TP4, which forms the locking surface with the outside of the locking groove. TA4 corresponds to TA of FIG. 35. As can be seen in FIG. 38D, the tool only removes the minimum amount of material and forms the locking surface at an essentially large angle. In order not to break the tool, a wide part must be formed which extends out of the vertical plane. Moreover, the amount of material to be removed should be as small as possible to reduce wear and deformation on the tool. This is achieved with the proper design and angle of the rough cutter TP1.

This manufacturing method is therefore characterized in that at least two cutting tools operating at two different angles are required in forming the undercut locking groove 35 in the top of the tongue groove 36. Tongue grooves can still be made using more tools, which are used in different orders.

The method of forming the tongue grooves 36 in the floorboard will now be described in detail with the upper side 2 in the surface plane HP and the connecting edge 4a having the connecting plane VP perpendicular to the upper side. . The tongue groove is formed by two ribs 39, 40 extending from the connecting plane 4a and each having a free outer end. In at least one lip, the tongue groove has an undercut 35 comprising a locking surface 45 and is positioned further away from the connecting plane VP than at the free outer end 52 of the other lip. According to the invention the machining is carried out by a number of rotary cutting tools having a diameter larger than the thickness T of the floorboard. In this way, the cutting tool and the floorboard perform relative movements with respect to each other and parallel to the connecting edges of the plates. The invention is characterized by 1) forming an undercut by at least two such cutting tools, having a rotating shaft inclined at different angles with respect to the upper side 2, and 2) forming these first tools with the corresponding undercut. Is to drive a portion of the undercut farther from the connection plane VP than to the locking surface 45, and 3) to drive these second tools to form the locking surface 45. These first tools are driven by a rotating shaft set at a greater angle with respect to the upper side 2 of the floorboard than in the second tool. The lower lip 40 may be formed to extend beyond the connecting plane VP. The lower lip 40 can also be formed to extend to the connecting plane VP. Alternatively, the lower lip 40 may be formed to end at a distance from the connection plane VP.

The first tool is driven with a rotating shaft set at an angle of at most 85 ° with respect to the surface plane HP according to the embodiment. The second tool can be driven with a rotating shaft set at an angle of at most 60 ° with respect to the surface plane HP according to the embodiment. Moreover, since the tools can connect the floorboards in dependence on the angle of their rotational shaft with respect to the surface plane HP, tools with larger angles of the rotational shaft may be used to cut the floorboards before machining with tools with smaller angles of the rotational shaft. Processing.

Moreover, the third tool can be driven to form the lower portion of the tongue groove 36. This third tool can be brought into contact with the floorboard between the first tool and the second tool. The third tool can further be driven with a rotating shaft set at an angle of about 90 ° with respect to the surface plane HP.

Furthermore, the first tool can be configured to machine a wider surface portion of the connecting edge 4a of the floorboard than the second tool. The second tool can be formed such that the surface facing the surface plane HP is in profile with a reduced thickness of the tool in the radially outward direction of the tool. Moreover, three or more tools can be configured with different settings of these rotary shafts to form the undercut portion of the tongue groove. The tool can be used to process wood or wood fiber based materials.

39 shows how the connection system can be formed to compensate for expansion. As the relative humidity increases as it changes between cold and hot weather, the surface layer 32 expands and the floorboards 4a and 4b are pressed away. If the connection is inflexible, the connection edges 41, 61 may break or the locking element 8 may break. This problem can be solved by configuring the connection system to achieve the following properties individually and in combination to reduce this problem.

The connection system can be formed such that the floorboards can have a small clearance when the connection edges are pressed together, for example in horizontal connection with production and at normal relative humidity. Tens of millimeters of free space contribute to reducing the problem. The clearance in the opposite direction, ie the initial stress, can have the opposite effect.

If the contact surface between the locking surfaces 45, 65 is small, the connection system can be formed so that the locking surface can be compressed more easily than the upper connection edges 41, 61. The locking element 8 may be formed with a groove 64a between the locking surface and the upper horizontal support surface 64. With a suitable design of the tongue 38 and the locking element 8, the outside 69 of the tongue can be bent outward toward the interior 48 of the tongue groove and act as an elastic element in connection with the expansion and contraction of the surface layer. have.

In this embodiment, the lower support surface of the connection system is formed parallel to the horizontal plane for maximum locking vertically. It is also possible to obtain expandability, for example by applying a compressible material between two locking surfaces 45, 65 or by selecting a compressible material as the material for the tongue or tongue groove.

40 shows a connection system according to the invention that is best for the high stiffness of the tongue 38. In this case, the outside of the tongue is in contact with the inside of the tongue groove. If this contact surface is small and the contact takes place without very large compression, the connection system can be displaced in the locked position.

41 shows a connection system in which the lower support surfaces 50, 71 have two angles. A part of the support surface outside the connection plane is parallel to the horizontal plane. Inside the connecting plane closest to the inside of the tongue groove, the supporting surfaces have an angle corresponding to the tangent to the arc 32 which tangentially lies at the innermost edge of the supporting surface portions connecting to each other. The locking surface has a fairly low locking angle. Strength can still be sufficient because the lower lip 40 can be made rigid and rigid and the difference in angle is large at the parallels of the lower support surfaces 50, 71. In this embodiment, the locking surfaces 45 and 65 also act as upper support surfaces. The connection system therefore does not have an upper support surface in addition to the locking surface which also prevents vertical separation.

42A and 42B show a connection system, because the locking element 8 has a large horizontal shear-absorbing surface, which is convenient for locking the short side and can also have a high tensile strength with a softer material. Tongue 38 is positioned outside arc C2 and therefore has a lower portion that does not comply with the above-described basic principles of inward angular motion. As can be seen from FIG. 42B, since the locking element 8 of the tongue 38 can be disengaged from the tongue groove by pulling horizontally after the first upward angular motion operation is executed, the connection system is still around the upper connection edge. Can be dismantled by upward angular movement. The previously described principle for inward angular and upward angular motion around the upper connecting edge is therefore described in that the connecting system is pulled or combined with the snapping-neighbor in some other way, for example when the lower lip 40 is bent. It must be satisfied that it can do upward angular motion until it can be dismantled by pulling.

43A-43C show how the bottom of the tongue is relative to the lower lip 40 to facilitate horizontal snap-in in accordance with the present invention in a connection system with rigid upper lip 39 and locking grooves in the flexible lower lip. The basic principle that is formed is shown. In this embodiment, the upper lip 39 is much more rigid because it can be thicker or can be constructed of a harder and more rigid material. The lower lip 40 may be thinner and softer, and in conjunction with the snap-in, therefore essentially bending will occur within the lower lip 40. Snapping-in can be made much easier than others by limiting the maximum bending of the lower lip 40 as far as possible. FIG. 43A shows the increase in bending of the lower lip 40 up to the maximum bending level B1 which is characterized by the fact that the tongue 38 is so far inserted into the tongue groove 36 such that the round guides come into contact with each other. If the tongue 38 is inserted further, the lower lip 40 will be snapped-in terminated and bent backward until the locking element 8 is fully inserted into the final position in the locking groove 35. The lower front 49 of the tongue 38 should be designed so as not to bend the lower lip 40 down, instead being forced downward by the lower support surface 50. This portion 49 of the tongue should have a shape that may or may not contact the maximum bending level of the lower lip 40 when the lower lip 40 is bent around the lower connecting surface 50 of the tongue. If the tongue 38 has a shape that overlaps the lower lip 40, indicated by tangent 49b at this position, the bend B2 according to FIG. 43B can be made much larger. This can lead to a large friction in connection with the snap-in and the risk of damage to the connection. 43C shows that the maximum bending can be limited by designing the tongue groove 36 and the tongue 38 in such a way that there is a space S4 between the lower lip 40 and the lower outer portion 49 of the tongue.

Horizontal snapping-ins are usually used in combination with short-sided snapping-ins after locking the long sides. By snapping to the long side, it is also possible to snap the connecting system according to the invention with one board to a slightly upward angular position. This upward angular position is shown in FIG. 44. Since only a small bend B3 of the lower lip 40 is required for the guide 66 of the locking element to contact the guide 44 of the locking groove, the locking element is inserted by the downward angular motion into the locking groove 35. can do.

45A-50 illustrate different variations that can be used on the long side or the short side and can be made using large rotary cutting tools. With modern manufacturing techniques, complex shapes can be formed by processing the plate material at low cost in accordance with the present invention. Of course, most of the known geometries in these and conventionally good figures can be formed, for example, by extrusion, but this method is typically more expensive in terms of processing and inconvenient to form the widest material normally used for flooring. Please note that.

45A and 45B show a locking system according to the invention, wherein the outside of the tongue 38 is formed to be bendable. This bend is obtained by breaking the end of the tongue. During snapping-in, the lower lip 40 is bent downward and the outer lower part of the tongue 38 is bent upward.

46a and 46b show a locking system according to the invention with a split tongue. During snapping-in, the two parts of the tongue are bent towards each other and at the same time the two lips are bent away from each other.

These two connection systems are adapted to angularly move inward and outward, respectively, for locking and disassembly.

47A and 47B show a combination connection, where individual portions 40b form an extension of the lower lip and this portion may be elastic. The connection system is angular. The lower lip, which forms part of the core, forms a support surface in a manner that allows snapping-in to occur without bending the lip. Only the extended individual parts can be made of aluminum sheets and are elastic. The connection system can also be formed such that both portions of the lip can be elastic.

48A and 48B show the snap-in of a combined connection with a lower lip that makes up two parts, where only the individual lip forms a support surface. Such a connection system can be used, for example, on one side with some other connection system according to the invention. The advantage of this connection system is that, for example, the locking groove 35 can be formed using a large cutting tool with reasonably large degrees of freedom. After processing, the outer lip 40b is attached and its shape does not affect the workability. The outer lip 40b is elastic and does not have a locking element in this embodiment. Another advantage is that the lower lip can be made very thin so that the connection system can adjoin the thinnest core material. The core material may be, for example, a thin compact laminate, the upper and lower layers may be a fairly thick layer, for example of cork or soft plastic material, and the thick layer may give a soft and firm absorbent floor. have. Using this technique, it is possible to connect core materials having a thickness of about 2 mm compared to conventional core materials that are generally not thinner than 7 mm. If thickness can be saved, it can be used to increase the thickness of other layers. Clearly such connections can also be used in thicker materials.

49 and 50 show two variations of the combination system that can be used, for example, within a short side in combination with other preferred systems. The combination connection according to FIG. 49 can be made in an embodiment where the strip forms the elongated resilient portion of the tongue, and then the system will have a function similar to one of FIGS. 45A and 45B. 50 shows that this combination connection can be formed with a locking element 8b in the outer lip 40b which is positioned inside the connection plane.

51A-51F illustrate an arrangement method in accordance with the present invention that may be used to connect floorboards by a combination of horizontal together connection, upward angular motion, upwardly angulated position and downward angular motion. This arrangement method can be used for floorboards in accordance with the present invention, but can also be used optionally for mechanical connection systems within floors having this property to which the arrangement method can be applied. In order to simplify the description, the arrangement method is shown by connecting one plate referred to as a groove plate and another plate referred to as a tongue plate. The plates are actually the same. Clearly the entire placement process can also be carried out by connecting the tongue side with the groove side in the same way.

The tongue plate 4a with the tongue 38 and the groove plate 4b with the tongue groove 36 lie flat on the western ridge according to FIG. 51A in the initial position. Tongue 38 and tongue groove 36 have locking means to prevent vertical and horizontal separation. The groove plate 4b is thus directed toward the tongue plate 4a until the tongue 38 is in contact with the tongue groove 36 and the upper and lower portions of the tongue are partially inserted into the tongue grooves according to FIG. 51B. Is displaced horizontally to F1). This first operation forces the connecting edge of the plate to the same relative vertical position over the entire longitudinal size of the plate, and therefore any other arcuate shape is straightened.

If the groove plate is moved towards the tongue plate, the connecting edge of the groove plate will rise slightly in this position. Then, the groove plate 4b is angularly moved upward by the angular movement S1 and at the same time kept in contact with the tongue plate or alternatively pressed in the direction F1 toward the tongue plate 4a according to FIG. 51C. do. When the groove plate 4b reaches the angle SA with respect to the subfloor corresponding to the upward angular snapping position as described above and as shown in Fig. 44, the groove plate 4b is the tongue plate 4a. The upper connecting edges 41, 61 are brought into contact with each other and the locking means of the tongue are partially inserted into the locking means of the tongue groove by the snapping function.

This snapping function in the upward angular position is characterized by widening and spring back the outside of the tongue groove. The widening force is essentially smaller than necessary in conjunction with the snapping-in in the horizontal position. The snapping angle SA depends on the force which connects the plates with the upward angular movement of the groove plate 4b and presses them towards each other. If the pressing force in the direction F1 is high, the plate will snap at a lower angle SA than if the force is low. The snap-in position is also characterized in that the guides of the locking means can contact each other so that they can perform the snap-in function. If the plate is banana shaped, the plate will be straight and locked in connection with the snapping-in. The groove plate 4b can now be angled downward in accordance with FIG. 51E and locked against the tongue plate in its final position, in combination with the angular movement S2 pressing against the connecting edge. This is shown in FIG. 51F.

Depending on the connection structure, the requirement that the snap-in takes place with a reasonable amount of force and that the guide of the locking means is a connection capable of holding any banana shape together, so that the final locking can be done without any risk of damaging the connection system. It is possible to determine a very accurate snapping angle SA that gives the best function for.

The floorboards can be installed without any substantial aids, depending on the preferred placement method. In some cases, installation may be facilitated if performed with a suitable assistive device according to FIGS. 52A and 52B. A preferred aid according to the invention may be a striking or pressing block 80 which is designed to have a front lower portion 81 which angularly moves the groove plate upward when inserted under the edge of the floorboard. It has an upper adjacent edge 82 in contact with the edge of the groove plate in the upward angular position. Since the striking block 80 is inserted under the groove plate, when the adjacent edge 82 comes into contact with the floorboard, the groove plate will have a predetermined snapping angle. The groove plate 4a can now be snapped with the tongue of the tongue by pressing or striking against the striking block. Of course, the striking block can be moved to different parts of the plate. Obviously this can happen in combination with other presses against different parts of the plate, using different types of auxiliary devices giving similar results. This is the case, for example, when one assistive device is used to angularly move the plate up to the snap-in angle and the other assistive device is pressed together. The same method can be used if the subsidiary aid replaces the groove side of the new plate with the tongue side of the previously placed plate.

Other aspects of the tool for placement of floorboards will now be described. Such a tool for arranging the floorboard by interconnecting the tongue and groove connections can be designed as a block 80 with a connection surface 82 for connecting the connection edges 4a, 4b of the connection edge of the floorboard. The tool can be formed as a wedge for insertion under the floorboard. The connecting surface 82 of the wedge is arranged close to the thick end of the wedge. The connecting surface 82 of the tool can be concave curved to at least partially surround the connecting edges 4a, 4b of the floorboard. Moreover, the position of the wedge angle S1 of the wedge and the position of the connection surface 82 on the thick portion of the wedge is determined by the predetermined position of the floor plate when the floorboard is raised with the wedge 80 and the connecting edge of the floorboard contacts the connection surface 82. It can be adjusted to obtain an elevation angle. Adjacent surfaces 82 of the wedges 80 may be formed to oppose the joining edges 4b, the joining edges having been previously disposed with the undercut tongue grooves 36 formed at the opposing joining edges 4a of the floorboard. It has a tongue 38 facing obliquely upward to connect with the tongue 38 of the floorboard. Alternatively, the adjoining surface 82 of the wedge may be formed so as to be opposed to the connecting edge 4a, with the connecting edge facing obliquely upward and formed at the opposite connecting edge 4b of the floorboard 38 ) Has an undercut groove 36 for connecting.

The tool described above can be used to mechanically connect floorboards by raising one floorboard against another and to connect and lock the floorboard's mechanical locking system. The tool can also be used to mechanically connect one floorboard and another floorboard by snapping together the mechanical locking system of the floorboard when the floorboard is in the elevated state. Moreover, the tool may be formed such that the connecting surface 82 of the wedge is adjacent to the connecting edge 4b, which is connected with the undercut tongue groove 36 formed at the opposite connecting edge 4a of the floorboard. It may be used to have the tongue 38 facing obliquely upward to connect with the tongue 38 of the placed floorboard. Alternatively, the tool may be formed such that the adjacent surface 82 of the wedge is adjacent to the connecting edge 4a, with the connecting edge facing obliquely upward and formed at the opposite connecting edge 4b of the floorboard. It can be used to have an undercut groove 36 for connecting 38.

Fig. 53 shows that after joining the plates adjacently along the long edges, the plates 2a, 2b can be displaced to the locked position in the direction F2 so that the connection of the other two sides can take place together with the horizontal snapping. Shows.

Snapping-in in the upward angular position may occur in the short side as well as in the long side. If the short side of one plate is connected first, the long side can also be snapped to an upward angular position by angling the plate with the locked short side upwards to form a snapping angle. Thus the snap-in takes place in the upward angular position and at the same time the displacement in the locking position occurs along the short side. After snapping-in, the plate is angled downward and locked on both the long side and the short side.

Furthermore, FIGS. 53 and 54A and 54B describe a problem that may arise from the connection with the snapping-in of two short sides of two plates 2a and 2b already connected with the other first plate 1 on the long side. . When the floorboard 2a is snapped onto the floorboard 2b, the inner corner portions 91 and 92 closest to the long side of the first board 1 are located in the same plane. This is due to the fact that the two plates 2a, 2b on each of these long sides are connected to the same floorboard 1. According to FIG. 54B, which shows sections C 3 -C 4, the tongue 38 can not be inserted into the tongue groove 36 so that the downward bending of the lower lip 40 cannot be started. At the outer corners 93 and 94 on the other long side, in section C1-C2 shown in FIG. 54A, the tongue 38 can be inserted into the groove 36, thereby locking the plate 2b to the locking element 8. The lower lip 40 begins to bend downward by automatically angling upward corresponding to the height of.

The inventors therefore find that there may be a problem with the snapping-in of the inner corners with lateral displacements in the same plane, and that these problems can greatly hinder the snapping-in and cause a risk of cracking of the connection system. Paid. This problem can be solved by proper connection design and the selection of materials that are capable of bending deformation of the material within multiple connections.

When snapping-in this specially designed connection system, it occurs as follows. In the lateral displacement, the upper lip and the outer guides 42, 68 of the tongue cooperate to force the locking element 8 of the tongue down the outside of the upper lip 39. The tongue is bent downward and the upper lip is bent upward. This is illustrated by the arrows in FIG. 54B. The corner portion 92 in FIG. 53 is pressed upward by bending the lower lip 40 on the long side of the plate 2b, and the corner portion 91 is on the upper lip on the long side of the plate 2a. It is pressed downward by bending. The connection system must be configured such that the sum of these four displacements is so great that the locking element slides along the upper lip and snaps into the locking groove. It is known that the tongue groove 36 can be widened in connection with the snapping-in. However, it is not known that it would be advantageous if the tongue, which should normally be rigid, is also designed to bend in conjunction with the snapping-in. This embodiment is shown in FIG. 55. Something like a groove 63 can be made inside the top of the tongue inside the vertical plane VP. The total size PB of the tongue can extend from inside to outside, for example greater than half the floor thickness T.

56A-56E and 57A-57E show the inner corner portions 91, 92 (FIGs. 57A-57E) and the outer corner portions 93, 94 (FIGS. 56A-56E) of the two floorboards 2a, 2b. Shows how the parts of the connection system bend in conjunction with the snap-in. To simplify the manufacture, only thin lips and tongues are required to bend. Indeed, of course all the parts under pressure will be compressed and bent to vary in extent depending on the thickness, bendability, composition, etc. of the material.

56A and 57A show the positions when the edges of the plates come into contact with each other. The connection system is constructed in this way even in the manner in which the outermost end of the tongue 38 is located outside of the lower lip 40. If the plates are moved further towards each other, the tongue 38 in the inner corners 91, 92 will press the plate 2b upward in accordance with FIGS. 56B and 57B. The tongue will bend downward and the plate 2b at the outer corners 93, 94 will be angulated upward. 57C shows that the tongue 38 at the inner corners 91, 92 is bent downward. At the outer corners 93, 94 according to FIG. 56C, the tongue 38 is bent upwards and the lower lip 40 is bent downwards. 56d and 57d this bending continues until the plates are moved further towards each other, and now the lower lip 40 is also bent at the inner corners 91 and 92 according to FIG. 57d. 56E and 57E show the snap-in position. Therefore, when the tongue and groove contact each other as the plate lies in the same plane, in conjunction with the snapping-in that occurs after the floorboard is locked along two different sides, the tongue 38 is bendable and the outside of the tongue 38 When positioned inside the outside of the lower lip 40, snap-in can be very easy.

Some variations may be within the scope of the present invention. We manufacture and evaluate a large number of variations where different parts of the connection system are made of different widths, lengths, thicknesses, angles and radii of many different sheet materials and uniform plastic and wood panels. I have been. All connection systems incorporate prior art systems as well as the various combinations of the systems described here on the long side and the short side, in snapping and angular motion of grooves and tongues with respect to each other and in positions where the top and bottom sides have been changed. I've tested it. The locking system has a horizontal locking means in case the locking face is also an upper connection face, in case the tongue and groove have a plurality of locking elements and locking grooves, and also the lower and lower lips of the tongue in the form of a rotating element and locking groove. It is prepared when formed.

Claims (134)

In a locking system for mechanically connecting the floorboards 1, 1 ′ in the connection plane VP, the floorboards 1, 1 ′ have a core 30, a front face 2, 32, a rear face 34. A tongue groove having opposite connection edges 4a, 4b, one of which connection edges 4a being formed by upper and lower lips 39, 40 and having a bottom end 48; formed as a groove 36, the other connecting edge portion 4b is formed as a tongue 38 having an upward portion 8 at the free outer end thereof, In the connection plane VP, the tongue groove 36 has the shape of an undercut groove 36 having an opening, an interior 35 and an internal locking surface 45, A portion of the lower lip 40 is integrally formed with the core 30 of the floorboard, When the two floorboards 1, 1 ′ are mechanically connected, the tongue 38 has a locking surface 65 which is formed to cooperate with the inner locking surface 45 in the tongue groove 36. In the locking system, accordingly, the front face 2 of the floorboard is formed so as to meet in the connection plane VP located in and perpendicular to the same surface plane HP. The main part of the bottom end 48 of the tongue groove is located farther from the connecting plane VP than in the outer end 69 of the tongue 38 when viewed in parallel with the surface plane HP, The inner locking surface 45 of the tongue groove 36 is formed on the upper lip 39 in the undercut portion 35 of the tongue groove to cooperate with the corresponding locking surface 65 of the tongue. The corresponding locking surface is formed on the upper portion 8 of the tongue 38 to prevent the two mechanically connected plates from falling out in a direction D2 perpendicular to the connecting plane VP; The lower lip 40 has a support surface 50 for cooperating with a corresponding support surface 71 on the tongue 38 at a distance from the bottom end 48 of the undercut groove, the support surfaces Cooperating to hinder the relative displacement of the two mechanically connected plates in a direction D1 perpendicular to the surface plane HP, From the point C at which the surface plane HP and the connection plane VP intersect, all parts of the lower lip 40 connected with the core are located outside the locking plane LP2, and the locking The plane LP2 is located further from the point than the locking plane LP1 parallel to it and tangential to the cooperating locking surfaces 45, 65 of the tongue and tongue groove, and the locking plane LP2 is the surface plane. Mostly inclined to (HP), The upper lip 39, the lower lip 40 and the tongue 38 of the connecting edges 4a, 4b are the tongue of the floorboard 1 and the tongue 38 of the other floorboard 1 ′. To disassemble the groove 36, two mechanically connected floorboards are disassembled by pivoting one floorboard upward relative to the other floorboard around the pivot center C near the intersection on the surface plane HP and the connection plane VP. I am designed to be able to do it, Locking system. The method of claim 1, The upper lip 39, the lower lip 40 and the tongue 38 of the connecting edges 4a, 4b are such that if two floorboards are in contact with one another, the tongue of one floorboard and the tongue of the other floorboard Two floorboards (1, 1 ') are pivoted by pivoting one floorboard downward relative to the other floorboard around a pivot center (C) near the intersection on the surface plane (HP) and the connection plane (VP) to connect the groove. It is designed to connect, Locking system. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The undercut groove 36 and the tongue 38 are characterized in that the floorboards 1, 1 ′, which are in mechanical connection with similar plates, have a design such that they are displaceable in the direction D3 along the connection plane VP, Locking system. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The tongue 38 and the undercut groove 36 maintain contact between the plates at a point C on the connection edge of the plate near the intersection on the surface plane HP and the connection plane VP. Is designed to connect and disassemble one plate with another by pivoting one plate relative to another plate, Locking system. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The tongue 38 and the undercut groove 36 are connected to the surface plane HP and the connecting plane without substantial contact between the lower lip and the side of the tongue 38 facing away from the surface plane HP. Designed to be able to connect and disassemble the plates by pivoting one plate relative to the other while maintaining contact between the plates at points on the connecting edge of the plate close to the intersection point on VP). Locking system. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The tongue 38 and the undercut groove 36 face away from the surface plane HP and face the sides of the tongue 38 facing the surface plane HP, respectively, and the upper lip 39 and the Intrinsic line contact between the lower lip 40 allows one plate to be held while maintaining contact between the plates at a point on the connecting edge of the plate near the intersection on the surface plane HP and the connecting plane VP. Characterized by being designed to connect and disassemble the plates 1, 1 ′ by pivoting against another plate, Locking system. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The distance between the locking plane LP2 and the plane LP1 in which all parts of the portion of the lower lip 40 parallel to and connected to the core 30 are located on the outer surface is the thickness T of the floorboard T. It is more than 10% of), Locking system. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The upper lip 39 and the locking surfaces 45, 65 of the tongue 38 form an angle with respect to the surface plane HP below 90 ° but above 20 °, Locking system. The method of claim 8, The upper lip 39 and the locking surfaces 45, 65 of the tongue 38 form an angle to the surface plane HP of at least 30 °, Locking system. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The undercut groove 36 and the tongue 38 are the locking surfaces 45 and 65 where the outer end 69 of the tongue 38 connects the upper lip 39 and the tongue 38 to each other. Characterized in that it is designed to be located at a distance from the undercut groove 36 along essentially the entire distance from the lower lip 40 to the cooperating support surfaces 50, 71 of the tongue 38. Locking system. The method of claim 10, When the two plates 1, 1 ′ are mechanically connected, the extent on the vertical plane of the contact surface portion between the outer end 69 of the tongue 38 and the undercut groove 36 is defined by the locking surface 45. Characterized in that it is smaller than the contact range on the vertical plane of Locking system. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The edges 4a, 4b with tongue 38 and tongue grooves 36 are edges 4b supporting the tongue, measured from the upper side to the lower side of the floorboard when two floorboards are connected. Characterized in that there is a surface contact between the edges 4a, 4b along 30% or less of the edge surface of Locking system. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The cooperating support surfaces 50, 71 of the tongue 38 and the lower lip 40 are oriented at a certain angle parallel to the surface plane HP or less than or equal to the tangent to the arc. Is a tangent to the support surfaces connecting to each other at the point closest to the bottom 48 of the undercut groove, and when the plate is viewed in cross section, the point C at which the surface plane HP and the connection plane VP intersect. Characterized by having a center, Locking system. The method of claim 13, The tongue 38 and the cooperating support surfaces 50, 71 of the lower lip 40 are set at an angle of 0 ° to 30 ° to the surface plane HP, Locking system. The method of claim 14, The cooperative support surfaces 50 and 71 of the tongue 38 and the lower lip 40 are set at an angle of 10 ° or more to the surface plane HP, Locking system. The method of claim 14, The cooperative support surfaces 50, 71 of the tongue 38 and the lower lip 40 are set at an angle of 20 ° or less with the surface plane HP, Locking system. The method of claim 13, The cooperating support surfaces 50, 71 of the tongue 38 and the lower lip 40 are set at an angle to the surface plane HP which is essentially the same tangent to the arc, the arc being the support. Characterized in that it is tangent to the faces 50, 71 and the plate is in cross section, centered at the point where the surface plane HP and the connection plane VP intersect, Locking system. The method of claim 13, The cooperative support surfaces 50, 71 of the tongue 38 and the lower lip 40 are set at an angle greater than the tangent to the arc relative to the surface plane HP, the arc being the undercut groove. Characterized in that it is tangent to the connection surface connecting to each other at the point closest to the bottom of the center, and has a center at the point where the surface plane HP and the connection plane VP intersect, Locking system. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The angle with respect to the surface plane HP at the cooperating support surfaces 50, 71 of the tongue 38 and the lower lip 40 designed to cooperate with each other is the upper lip 39 and the tongue ( It is characterized in that it is set smaller than the angle to the surface plane (HP) in the cooperative locking surface of 38), Locking system. The method of claim 19, The support surface of the tongue 38 and the lower lip 40 is designed to cooperate and incline in the same direction but with the cooperative locking surface 50 of the upper lip 39 and the tongue 38. 71) is set at a smaller angle with respect to the surface plane HP, Locking system. The method of claim 13, The support surface (50, 71) is characterized in that to form an angle greater than 20 ° to the surface plane (HP) than in the locking surface (45, 65), Locking system. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The locking surface 45 portion of the upper lip 39 is characterized in that it is located closer to the bottom 48 of the tongue groove than the supporting surface 50, 71 portion, Locking system. The method according to claim 1 or 2, Characterized in that the upper lip 39 and the locking surfaces 45, 65 of the tongue 38 are essentially planar in a surface portion which is adapted to cooperate with each other when two such plates are connected, Locking system. The method of claim 23, The tongue 38 is located outside the locking surface of the tongue 38 when viewed from the connecting plane VP, and has a guide surface having a smaller angle to the surface plane than that at the locking surface. Characterized by having Locking system. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The upper lip 39 has a guide surface 42, the guide surface 42 is located closer to the opening of the tongue groove 36 than the locking surface 45 of the upper lip, and The angle to the surface plane HP of the guide surface 42 is smaller than the angle to the surface plane HP of the locking surface 45 of the upper lip, Locking system. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The lower lip 40 is characterized in that it extends or preferably ends at a distance from the connecting plane VP, Locking system. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The lower lip 40 is shorter than the upper lip 39 and ends at a distance from the connecting plane VP, and the lower lip 40 and the support surfaces 50, 71 of the tongue 38 are closed. A portion is characterized in that it is located farther from the connecting plane VP than at the inclined locking surfaces 45, 65 of the upper lip 39 and the tongue 38, Locking system. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The locking surface 65 of the tongue 38 is arranged at a distance of at least 0.1 times the thickness T of the floorboards 1, 1 ′ from the end 69 of the tongue 38, Locking system. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The vertical size of the cooperating locking surfaces 45 and 65 is smaller than half of the vertical size of the undercut 35 when viewed in parallel to the surface plane HP from the connection plane VP. Locking system. The method according to claim 1 or 2, When looking at the floorboard in a vertical section, the locking surface (45, 65) is characterized in that it has a size of less than 10% of the thickness (T) of the floorboard, Locking system. The method according to claim 1 or 2, When the length of the tongue 38 is viewed vertically away from the connecting plane (VP), characterized in that more than 0.3 times the thickness (T) of the floorboard, Locking system. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The connecting edge portion 4b supporting the tongue, or the connecting edge portion 4a supporting the tongue groove, or the connecting edge portion 4b supporting the tongue and the connecting portion supporting the tongue groove. It is characterized in that both edges 4a have a gap 63 positioned on the tongue and ending at a distance from the surface plane HP, Locking system. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The upper lip 39 and the tongue 38 have contact surfaces 43, 64 cooperating with each other in a locked state, the contact surface of the tongue 38 and the upper lip 39 cooperating with each other in a locked state. Characterized in that it is located in the region between the locking surfaces 45, 65 and the connection plane VP, Locking system. The method of claim 33, wherein Characterized in that the contact surface (43, 64) is essentially planar, Locking system. The method of claim 33, wherein The contact surfaces 43 and 64 are inclined upwardly toward the surface plane HP in the direction toward the connection plane VP. Locking system. The method of claim 33, wherein The contact surfaces 43, 64 are characterized in that they are essentially parallel to the surface plane HP, Locking system. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The lower lip 40 of the tongue groove 36 is characterized in that it is flexible, Locking system. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The locking system is characterized in that it is formed as a snap lock which is openable by angling one plate 1 'with respect to the other plate 1, Locking system. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The locking system replaces the old floorboard and the new floorboard by pushing together motion essentially parallel to the surface plane HP of the previously placed plate for snapping portions of the locking system together. It is formed to connect, characterized in that Locking system. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The undercut groove 36 is characterized in that it has an outer opening that tapers inward in the shape of a funnel when viewed in cross section, Locking system. The method of claim 40, The upper lip 39 is characterized in that it has an inclined surface 42 at the outer edge portion far away from the surface plane HP, Locking system. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The tongue has an end portion 69 tapering in cross section, Locking system. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The tongue 38 has a split end having an upper tongue 38a and a lower tongue 38b in cross section, Locking system. The method of claim 43, The upper tongue portion 38a and the lower tongue portion 38b of the tongue 38 are characterized in that they are made of different materials with different material properties, Locking system. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The tongue groove and the tongue are formed integrally with the floorboard (1, 1 '), Locking system. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The locking surfaces 45, 65 are set at an angle greater than the tangent to the arc surface with respect to the surface plane HP, which arcs connect with each other at a point closest to the bottom 48 of the undercut groove. It is characterized in that the tangent to the locking surface (45, 65) centered at the point where the plane (HP) and the connection plane (VP) intersect, Locking system. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The upper lip 39 is characterized in that thicker than the lower lip 40, Locking system. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The minimum thickness of the upper lip 39 adjacent to the undercut 35 is greater than the maximum thickness of the lower lip 40 adjacent to the support surface 50, Locking system. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The size of the support surface (50, 71) is characterized in that less than 15% of the thickness (T) of the floorboard, Locking system. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The vertical size between the upper lip 39 and the lower lip 40, measured parallel to the connecting plane VP and measured at the outer end of the support surface 43, is 30% of the thickness T of the floorboard. It is ideal, Locking system. The method according to claim 1 or 2, Characterized in that the depth of the tongue groove 36 is 2% greater than the corresponding size of the tongue 38, measured from the connection plane VP, Locking system. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The tongue 38 is characterized in that it has a different material property than the upper lip 39 and the lower lip 40, Locking system. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The upper lip 39 is characterized in that it is more rigid than the lower lip 40, Locking system. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The upper lip 39 and the lower lip 40 is characterized in that it is made of a material having different properties, Locking system. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The locking system also includes a second mechanical lock, the second mechanical lock, A locking groove 14 formed on the lower side of the connecting edge portion 4b for supporting the tongue 38 and extending in parallel with the connecting plane VP, Has a locking component 6 integrally attached to the connecting edge 4a of the plate under the tongue groove 36 and extending essentially along the entire length of the connecting edge and protruding from the strip, It is characterized in that it comprises a locking strip which is received in the locking groove 14 of the adjacent plate 1 ′ when two such plates are mechanically connected. Locking system. The method of claim 55, The locking strip 6 is characterized in that it projects beyond the connecting plane, Locking system. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The locking system is formed in a plate having a core made of wood fiber-based material, Locking system. The method of claim 52, wherein The locking system is characterized in that it is formed in a plate with a wooden core, Locking system. It has a core 30, a front face 2, a back face 34 and two opposing connecting edge portions 4a, 4b formed as part of a mechanical locking system, one of which is the upper and lower lips 39, 40. Formed as a tongue groove 36 having a bottom end 48, the other being formed as a tongue 38 having an upwards 8 at the free outer end 69, Viewing from the connecting plane VP, the tongue groove 36 has an undercut groove shape with an opening, an interior 35 and an internal locking surface 45, A portion of the lower lip 40 is integrally formed with the core 30 of the floorboard, When the two floorboards are mechanically connected, the tongue 38 has a locking surface 65 which is formed to cooperate with the inner locking surface 45 in the tongue groove 36, thus the front face 2 of the floorboard 2 In the floorboard, is formed to meet in the connecting plane (VP) located in and perpendicular to the same surface plane (HP), The major part of the bottom end 48 of the tongue groove is located farther from the connecting plane VP than in the outer end 69 of the tongue 38 when viewed parallel to the surface plane HP, The inner locking surface 45 of the tongue groove 36 is formed on the upper lip 39 in the undercut portion 35 of the tongue groove to cooperate with the corresponding locking surface 65 of the tongue. The corresponding locking surface 65 is formed on the upper portion 8 of the tongue 38 to prevent the two mechanically connected plates from falling out in a direction D2 perpendicular to the connecting plane VP; The lower lip 40 has a support surface 50 for cooperating with a corresponding support surface 71 on the tongue 38 at a distance from the bottom end 48 of the undercut groove, the support surfaces (50, 71) is to prevent the relative displacement of the two mechanically connected plates in the direction (D1) perpendicular to the surface plane (HP), In view of the intersection of the surface plane HP and the connection plane VP, all parts of the lower lip 40 connected with the core 30 are located outside the locking plane LP2, and the locking The plane LP2 is located further from the point than the locking plane LP1 parallel to it and tangential to the cooperating locking surfaces 45, 65 of the tongue 38 and the tongue groove 36, and the locking planes are Mostly inclined to the surface plane (HP), The upper lip 39, the lower lip 40 and the tongue 38 of the connecting edges 4a and 4b disassemble the tongue 38 of one floorboard and the tongue groove 36 of the other floorboard. Two mechanically connected floorboards (1, 1 ') by pivoting one floorboard upward relative to the other floorboard around a pivot center (C) close to the intersection on the surface plane (HP) and the connection plane (VP). It is designed to be able to be characterized by Floorboard. The method of claim 59, The upper lip 39, the lower lip 40 and the tongue 38 of the connecting edge are adapted to connect the tongue of one floorboard with the tongue grooves of the other floorboard if two floorboards are in contact with each other. Characterized in that it is designed to connect two floorboards by pivoting one floorboard downward relative to the other floorboard around a pivot center C close to the intersection on the surface plane HP and the connection plane VP. Floorboard. 61. The method of claim 59 or 60, The undercut groove 36 and the tongue 38 are characterized in that the floorboard mechanically connected with a similar plate has a design such that the floorboard is displaceable in the direction D3 along the connection plane VP, Floorboard. 61. The method of claim 59 or 60, The tongue 38 and the undercut groove 36 maintain contact between the plates at a point C on the connection edge of the plate near the intersection on the surface plane HP and the connection plane VP. Is designed to connect and disassemble one plate with another by pivoting one plate relative to another plate, Floorboard. 61. The method of claim 59 or 60, The tongue 38 and the undercut groove 36 are connected to the surface plane HP and the connecting plane without substantial contact between the lower lip and the side of the tongue 38 facing away from the surface plane HP. Designed to be able to connect and disassemble the plates by pivoting one plate relative to the other while maintaining contact between the plates at points on the connecting edge of the plate close to the intersection point on VP). Floorboard. 61. The method of claim 59 or 60, The tongue 38 and the undercut groove 36 face away from the surface plane HP and face the sides of the tongue 38 facing the surface plane HP, respectively, and the upper lip 39 and the Intrinsic line contact between the lower lip 40 allows one plate to be held while maintaining contact between the plates at a point on the connecting edge of the plate near the intersection on the surface plane HP and the connecting plane VP. Characterized by being designed to connect and disassemble the plates by pivoting against the other plates, Floorboard. 61. The method of claim 59 or 60, The distance between the locking plane LP2 and the plane LP1 in which all parts of the portion of the lower lip 40, which are parallel to and connected to the core 30, is located on the outer side, is determined by the thickness of the floorboard ( It is characterized by more than 10% of T), Floorboard. 61. The method of claim 59 or 60, Characterized in that the locking surface of the upper lip 39 and the tongue 38 forms an angle with respect to the surface plane HP below 90 ° but above 20 °, Floorboard. The method of claim 66, Characterized in that the locking surface of the upper lip 39 and the tongue 38 forms an angle with respect to the surface plane HP of 30 ° or more, Floorboard. 61. The method of claim 59 or 60, The undercut groove 36 and the tongue 38 are formed in the lower portion from the locking surfaces 45 and 65 where the outer end 69 of the tongue connects the upper lip 39 and the tongue 38 to each other. It is characterized in that it is designed to be located at a distance from the undercut groove 36 along the essentially entire distance from the lip 40 and the cooperating support surfaces 50, 71 of the tongue 38, Floorboard. The method of claim 68, wherein The surface portion contacting between the outer end 69 of the tongue 38 and the undercut groove 36 is made at the locking surfaces 45, 65 when two such plates 1, 1 ′ are mechanically connected. Characterized by less in the vertical plane than Floorboard. 61. The method of claim 59 or 60, The edge with tongue 38 and tongue groove 36 is 30% of the edge of the edge 4b supporting the tongue, measured from the top to the bottom of the floorboard when the two floorboards are connected. It is characterized in that there is a surface contact between the edge portions (4a, 4b) according to the following, Floorboard. 61. The method of claim 59 or 60, The cooperating support surfaces 50, 71 of the tongue 38 and the lower lip 40 are oriented at a certain angle parallel to the surface plane HP or less than or equal to the tangent to the arc. Is a tangent to the support surfaces connecting to each other at the point closest to the bottom 48 of the undercut groove, and when the plate is viewed in cross section, the point C at which the surface plane HP and the connection plane VP intersect. Characterized by having a center, Floorboard. 61. The method of claim 59 or 60, The tongue 38 and the cooperating support surfaces 50, 71 of the lower lip 40 are set at an angle of 0 ° to 30 ° to the surface plane HP, Floorboard. The method of claim 72, The cooperative support surfaces 50 and 71 of the tongue 38 and the lower lip 40 are set at an angle of 10 ° or more to the surface plane HP, Floorboard. The method of claim 72, The cooperative support surfaces 50, 71 of the tongue 38 and the lower lip 40 are set at an angle of 20 ° or less with the surface plane HP, Floorboard. The method of claim 71 wherein The cooperating support surfaces 50, 71 of the tongue 38 and the lower lip 40 are set at an angle to the surface plane HP which is essentially the same tangent to the arc, the arc being the support. Characterized in that it is tangent to the faces 50, 71 and the plate is in cross section, centered at the point where the surface plane HP and the connection plane VP intersect, Floorboard. The method of claim 71 wherein The cooperative support surfaces 50, 71 of the tongue 38 and the lower lip 40 are set at an angle greater than the tangent to the arc relative to the surface plane HP, the arc being the undercut groove. Characterized in that it is tangent to the connection surface connecting to each other at the point closest to the bottom of the center, and has a center at the point where the surface plane HP and the connection plane VP intersect, Floorboard. 61. The method of claim 59 or 60, The cooperating support surfaces 50, 71 of the tongue 38 and the lower lip 40 are designed to cooperate, and the cooperating locking surface 45 of the upper lip 39 and the tongue 38. 65 is set at a smaller angle with respect to the surface plane (HP) than, Floorboard. 78. The method of claim 77 wherein The support surface of the tongue 38 and the lower lip 40 is designed to cooperate and incline in the same direction but the cooperative locking surface 45 of the upper lip 39 and the tongue 38. 65) is set at a smaller angle with respect to the surface plane HP, Floorboard. The method of claim 71 wherein The support surface (50, 71) is characterized in that to form an angle greater than 20 ° to the surface plane (HP) than in the locking surface (45, 65), Floorboard. 61. The method of claim 59 or 60, The upper lip extends to the connecting plane VP, and a portion of the inclined locking surface 45 of the upper lip 39 is from the connecting plane VP than at the supporting surface 50 of the lower lip. Characterized in that it is located further away, Floorboard. 61. The method of claim 59 or 60, Characterized in that the upper lip 39 and the locking surfaces 45, 65 of the tongue 38 are essentially planar in a surface portion which is adapted to cooperate with each other when two such plates are connected, Floorboard. 82. The method of claim 81 wherein The tongue 38 is located outside the locking surface of the tongue 38 when viewed from the connecting plane VP, and has a guide surface having a smaller angle with respect to the surface plane than that at the locking surface. 68), characterized in that Floorboard. 61. The method of claim 59 or 60, The lower lip 40 is located closer to the opening of the tongue groove 36 than at the support surface of the lower lip 40, and the surface plane is less than at the support surface of the lower lip 40. Characterized in that it has a guide surface 51 having a smaller angle with respect to (HP), Floorboard. 61. The method of claim 59 or 60, The lower lip 40 is characterized in that it extends or preferably ends at a distance from the connecting plane VP, Floorboard. 61. The method of claim 59 or 60, The lower lip 40 is shorter than the upper lip 39 and ends at a distance from the connecting plane VP, and the lower lip 40 and the support surfaces 50, 71 of the tongue 38 are closed. A portion is characterized in that it is located farther from the connecting plane VP than at the inclined locking surfaces 45, 65 of the upper lip 39 and the tongue 38, Floorboard. 61. The method of claim 59 or 60, When the locking surface 65 of the tongue 38 is viewed from the end of the tongue 38, it is arranged at a distance of at least 0.1 times the thickness T of the floorboard, Floorboard. 61. The method of claim 59 or 60, The locking surface 65 of the tongue 38 is characterized in that it is arranged at a distance of at least 0.1 times the thickness T of the floorboard from the end 69 of the tongue 38, Floorboard. 61. The method of claim 59 or 60, The vertical size of the locking surfaces 45 and 65 is smaller than half of the vertical size of the undercut 35 when viewed in parallel to the surface plane from the connecting plane VP. Floorboard. 61. The method of claim 59 or 60, When looking at the floorboard in a vertical section, the locking surface (45, 65) is characterized in that it has a size of less than 10% of the thickness (T) of the floorboard, Floorboard. 61. The method of claim 59 or 60, When the length of the tongue 38 is viewed vertically away from the connecting plane (VP), characterized in that more than 0.3 times the thickness (T) of the floorboard, Floorboard. 61. The method of claim 59 or 60, The connecting edge portion 4b supporting the tongue, or the connecting edge portion 4a supporting the tongue groove, or the connecting edge portion 4b supporting the tongue and the connecting portion supporting the tongue groove. It is characterized in that both edges 4a have gaps 63, 63a positioned on the tongue and ending at a distance from the surface plane HP, Floorboard. 61. The method of claim 59 or 60, The upper lip 39 and the tongue 38 have contact surfaces 43, 64 cooperating with each other in a locked state, the contact surface of the tongue 38 and the upper lip 39 cooperating with each other in a locked state. Characterized in that it is located in the region between the locking surfaces 45, 65 and the connection plane VP, Floorboard. 92. The method of claim 92, Characterized in that the contact surface (43, 64) is essentially planar, Floorboard. 92. The method of claim 92, The contact surfaces 43 and 64 are inclined upwardly toward the surface plane HP in the direction toward the connection plane VP. Floorboard. 92. The method of claim 92, The contact surfaces 43, 64 are characterized in that they are essentially parallel to the surface plane HP, Floorboard. 61. The method of claim 59 or 60, The lower lip 40 of the tongue groove is characterized in that it is flexible, Floorboard. 61. The method of claim 59 or 60, The floorboard is characterized in that it is formed as a snap lock which is openable by angularly moving one plate 1 'with respect to the other plate 1, Floorboard. 61. The method of claim 59 or 60, Wherein the floorboard is formed for connecting the new floorboard with the previously placed floorboard by a pushing together movement essentially parallel to the surface plane of the previously placed board for snapping together portions of the floorboard. , Floorboard. 61. The method of claim 59 or 60, The undercut groove 36 is characterized in that it has an outer opening that tapers inward in the shape of a funnel when viewed in cross section, Floorboard. The method of claim 99, wherein The upper lip 39 is characterized in that it has an inclined surface 42 at the outer edge portion far away from the surface plane HP, Floorboard. 61. The method of claim 59 or 60, The tongue 38 has an end 69 tapering in cross section, Floorboard. 61. The method of claim 59 or 60, Characterized in that the tongue has a split end having an upper tongue portion 38a and a lower tongue portion 38b in cross section, Floorboard. 103. The method of claim 102, The upper tongue portion 38a and the lower tongue portion 38b of the tongue 38 are characterized in that they are made of different materials with different material properties, Floorboard. 61. The method of claim 59 or 60, The tongue groove 36 and the tongue 38 is characterized in that it is formed integrally with the floorboard (1, 1 '), Floorboard. 61. The method of claim 59 or 60, The locking surfaces are set at an angle greater with respect to the surface plane HP than the tangent to the arc, and the arcs connect with each other at a point closest to the bottom 48 of the undercut groove and with the surface plane HP It is characterized in that the tangent to the locking surface (45, 65) centered at the point where the connection plane (VP) intersects, Floorboard. 61. The method of claim 59 or 60, The upper lip 39 is characterized in that thicker than the lower lip 40, Floorboard. 61. The method of claim 59 or 60, The minimum thickness of the upper lip 39 adjacent to the undercut is greater than the maximum thickness of the lower lip 40 adjacent to the support surface 50, Floorboard. 61. The method of claim 59 or 60, The size of the support surface (50, 71) is characterized in that less than 15% of the thickness (T) of the floorboard, Floorboard. 61. The method of claim 59 or 60, The floorboard is parallel to the connection plane VP and the vertical size between the upper lip 39 and the lower lip 40 measured at the outer end of the support surface 43 is the thickness T of the floorboard. It is more than 30% of Floorboard. 61. The method of claim 59 or 60, Characterized in that the depth of the tongue groove 36 is 2% greater than the corresponding size of the tongue 38, measured from the connection plane VP, Floorboard. 61. The method of claim 59 or 60, The tongue 38 is characterized in that it has a different material property than the upper lip 39 and the lower lip 40, Floorboard. 61. The method of claim 59 or 60, The upper lip 39 is characterized in that it is more rigid than the lower lip 40, Floorboard. 61. The method of claim 59 or 60, The upper lip 39 and the lower lip 40 is characterized in that it is made of a material having different properties, Floorboard. 61. The method of claim 59 or 60, The floorboard also includes a second mechanical lock, the second mechanical lock, A locking groove 14 formed on the lower side of the connecting edge portion 4b for supporting the tongue 38 and extending in parallel with the connecting plane VP, It is integrally attached to the connecting edge 4a of the plate under the tongue groove 36 and has a locking component 6 which essentially extends along the entire length of the connecting edge and protrudes from the strip, two such It is characterized in that it comprises a locking strip which is received in the locking groove 14 of the adjacent plate 1 when the plates are mechanically connected, Floorboard. 116. The method of claim 114, wherein The locking strip 6 is characterized in that it projects beyond the connecting plane VP, Floorboard. 61. The method of claim 59 or 60, The floorboard is characterized in that it is formed in a plate having a core 3 made of wood fiber-based material, Floorboard. 61. The method of claim 59 or 60, The floorboard is characterized in that it is formed in a plate with a wooden core 3, Floorboard. 61. The method of claim 59 or 60, The floorboard is characterized in that the quadrilateral and has a parallel side in pair, Floorboard. 119. The method of claim 118 wherein The floorboard has a mechanical locking system at all four side edges, Floorboard. 119. The method of claim 119 wherein The floorboard is characterized in that it has a mechanical locking system at two opposite side edges, Floorboard. 113. The method of claim 110, The mechanical locking system on two opposite short sides of the plate is characterized by having the undercut groove 36 and the tongue 38 formed for locking together by a snapping function, Floorboard. 119. The method of claim 118 wherein The connecting edge 4b with the tongue 38 on a pair of parallel connecting edges, or the connecting edge 4a with the tongue grooves 36, or the connecting with the tongue 38 Both the edge 4b and the connecting edge 4a with the tongue groove 36 are connected to the connecting edge with the tongue on another pair of parallel connecting edges, or to the connecting edge with the tongue groove, Or formed of a material different from both the connecting edge portion having the tongue and the connecting edge portion having the tongue groove. Floorboard. It has a core 30, a front face 2, 32, a back face 34 and opposing connecting edges 4a, 4b formed as part of a mechanical locking system, one of which is the upper and lower lips 39, 40. Formed as a tongue groove 36 having a bottom end 48 and the other as a tongue 38 having an upward portion 8 at its free outer end, The tongue groove has the shape of an undercut groove 36 having an opening, an interior 35 and an internal locking surface 45, The tongue 38 cooperates with the inner locking surface 45 in the tongue groove 36 of the adjacent floorboard when the two floorboards are mechanically connected, so that the front face 2 of the floorboard is in the same surface plane HP. In a method for joining a floorboard over a foundation having a locking surface 65 positioned and formed so that the tops of the connecting edges 4a, 4b meet in the connecting plane VP perpendicular to it. , Move one connecting edge 4b of the new plate to the other connecting edge 4a of the previously placed floorboard until the tongue 38 of one plate is partially inserted into the tongue groove 36 of the other plate. To do that, The new plate is then formed on one floorboard during contact between the tongue groove 36 and the upper and lower sides of the tongue 38 and the tongue 38 until the top of the connecting edges of the floorboard come into contact with each other. And in order to insert the outer end 69 of the tongue 38 into the tongue groove 36 of another plate, having a locking surface 65 formed at a distance from an end in the upper portion 8 of the tongue. Angling upward with respect to the floorboard, The new plate then connects the support surface 71 formed on the lower side of the tongue 38 with the corresponding support surface 50 formed on the lower lip 40 of the other plate. Angularly downwardly moving the tongue 38 to its final position during continuous insertion into the tongue groove 36 to a position such that the plates are mechanically locked together both horizontally and vertically. Method for joining floorboards on a foundation. 126. The method of claim 123, wherein During installation, the new plate and its tongue 38 move towards the tongue groove of the previously placed plate, Method for joining floorboards on a foundation. 126. The method of claim 123, wherein During installation, the new plate and its undercut groove 36 move towards the tongue 38 of the previously placed plate, Method for joining floorboards on a foundation. 126. The method of any of claims 123-125, wherein Characterized in that the upward angular movement of the new plate is made during pressing against the previously placed plate, Method for joining floorboards on a foundation. 126. The method of any of claims 123-125, wherein A downward angular movement of the new plate is characterized during the contact between the previously placed plate and the upper connecting edges 4a, 4b of the new plate Method for joining floorboards on a foundation. 126. The method of any of claims 123-125, wherein During the downward angular movement, the new plate is pressed against the previously placed plate, Method for joining floorboards on a foundation. 126. The method of any of claims 123-125, wherein The upward angular movement is terminated by snapping the tongue 38 into the tongue groove 36, Method for joining floorboards on a foundation. 131. The method of claim 129 wherein The snapping-in is characterized by moving the upper lip 39 and the lower lip 40 of the tongue groove essentially farther away, Method for joining floorboards on a foundation. 131. The method of claim 130, The snapping-in is characterized in that the lower lip 40 of the tongue groove is bent slightly downward, Method for joining floorboards on a foundation. 126. The method of any of claims 123-125, wherein After installation, the new plate is moved along the previously arranged plate to achieve a mechanical lock and to lock along the adjacent connecting edges 4a, 4b. Method for joining floorboards on a foundation. In a locking system for mechanically connecting the floorboards 1, 1 ′ in the connection plane VP, the floorboards 1, 1 ′ are opposed to the core 30, the front face 2, 32, the rear face 34. With edges 4a and 4b, one of the connecting edges 4a formed by upper and lower ribs 39 and 40 and formed as tongue grooves 36 with bottom end 48, and the other The connecting edge 4b is formed as a tongue 38 having an upward portion 8 at the free outer end, Viewed from the connecting plane VP, the tongue groove 36 has the shape of an undercut groove 36 having an opening, an interior 35 and an internal locking surface 45, A portion of the lower lip 40 is integrally formed with the core 30 of the floorboard, When the two floorboards 1, 1 ′ are mechanically connected, the tongue 38 has a locking surface 65 which is formed to cooperate with the inner locking surface 45 in the tongue groove 36. In the locking system, accordingly, the front face 2 of the floorboard is formed so as to meet in the connection plane VP located in and perpendicular to the same surface plane HP. The tongue groove and the tongue being configured to obtain space in the tongue groove over the outer end of the tongue when the two floorboards are mechanically connected, The inner locking surface 45 of the tongue groove 36 is formed on the upper lip 39 in the undercut portion 35 of the tongue groove to cooperate with the corresponding locking surface 65 of the tongue. The corresponding locking surface is formed on the upper portion 8 of the tongue 38 to prevent the two mechanically connected plates from falling out in a direction D2 perpendicular to the connecting plane VP; The lower lip has a cooperating support surface, which cooperates with a corresponding cooperating support surface of the tongue, the cooperating support surfaces cooperating to prevent relative displacement of two mechanically connected floorboards in a direction perpendicular to the surface plane; From the point C at which the surface plane HP and the connection plane VP intersect, all parts of the lower lip 40 connected with the core are located outside the locking plane LP2, and the locking The plane LP2 is located further from the point than the locking plane LP1 parallel to it and tangential to the cooperating locking surfaces 45, 65 of the tongue and tongue groove, and the locking plane LP2 is the surface plane. Mostly inclined to (HP), The upper lip 39, the lower lip 40 and the tongue 38 of the connecting edges 4a, 4b are the tongue of the floorboard 1 and the tongue 38 of the other floorboard 1 ′. To disassemble the groove 36, two mechanically connected floorboards are disassembled by pivoting one floorboard upward relative to the other floorboard around the pivot center C near the intersection on the surface plane HP and the connection plane VP. I am designed to be able to do it, Locking system. It has a core 30, a front face 2, a back face 34 and two opposing connecting edge portions 4a, 4b formed as part of a mechanical locking system, one of which is the upper and lower lips 39, 40. Formed as a tongue groove 36 having a bottom end 48, the other being formed as a tongue 38 having an upwards 8 at the free outer end 69, Viewing from the connecting plane VP, the tongue groove 36 has an undercut groove shape with an opening, an interior 35 and an internal locking surface 45, A portion of the lower lip 40 is integrally formed with the core 30 of the floorboard, When the two floorboards are mechanically connected, the tongue 38 has a locking surface 65 which is formed to cooperate with the inner locking surface 45 in the tongue groove 36, thus the front face 2 of the floorboard 2 In the floorboard, is formed to meet in the connecting plane (VP) located in and perpendicular to the same surface plane (HP), The tongue groove and the tongue being configured to obtain space in the tongue groove over the outer end of the tongue when the two floorboards are mechanically connected, The inner locking surface 45 of the tongue groove 36 is formed on the upper lip 39 in the undercut portion 35 of the tongue groove to cooperate with the corresponding locking surface 65 of the tongue. The corresponding locking surface 65 is formed on the upper portion 8 of the tongue 38 to prevent the two mechanically connected plates from falling out in a direction D2 perpendicular to the connecting plane VP; The lower lip has a cooperating support surface, which cooperates with a corresponding cooperating support surface of the tongue, the cooperating support surfaces cooperating to prevent relative displacement of two mechanically connected floorboards in a direction perpendicular to the surface plane; In view of the intersection of the surface plane HP and the connection plane VP, all parts of the lower lip 40 connected with the core 30 are located outside the locking plane LP2, and the locking The plane LP2 is located further from the point than the locking plane LP1 parallel to it and tangential to the cooperating locking surfaces 45, 65 of the tongue 38 and the tongue groove 36, and the locking planes are Mostly inclined to the surface plane (HP), The upper lip 39, the lower lip 40 and the tongue 38 of the connecting edges 4a and 4b disassemble the tongue 38 of one floorboard and the tongue groove 36 of the other floorboard. Two mechanically connected floorboards (1, 1 ') by pivoting one floorboard upward relative to the other floorboard around a pivot center (C) close to the intersection on the surface plane (HP) and the connection plane (VP). It is designed to be able to be characterized by Floorboard.

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