KR20030094235A - Floorboards and methods for production and installation thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The floorboard and the openable locking system include undercut groves on one long side of the floorboard and protruding tongues on opposite long sides of the floorboard. The undercut grove has a corresponding upward inner locking face at a distance from the tip. The tongue and undercut groves are formed to be joined together in a pivotal motion and pulled away, 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 joint plane VP. Undercuts in the grooves of such locking systems are made by disc-shaped cutting tools, the rotating shafts of the disc-shaped cutting tools being inclined relative to one another, first forming the inside of the undercut portion of the groove and then closer to the opening of the groove. Form a positioned locking face. The method of laying on the floor of these plates includes 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 grove of the previously placed plate, and turning the tongue into the undercut grove. Angle the new plate upward while simultaneously inserting the new plate downward to the final position. The manufacturing method for manufacturing the undercut grove uses machining by two or more different rotary cutting tools with rotary shafts set at different angles. The wedge shaped tool for laying the floorboard is wedge shaped with an upward engagement surface at the thicker end.

Description

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

Mechanical joints have been divided into large markets in a short time mainly due to their excellent laying 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 them.

Mechanical joint systems are very convenient for joining wooden floors and composite floors as well as stratified floors. Such floorboards may consist of a large number of different materials on the surface, core and backside. As will be detailed below, these materials may also be included in different parts of the joint system, such as strips, locking elements and tongues. However, for example, the problem associated with the tongue formed in accordance with WO 9426999 and WO 9747834 and providing the horizontal joints and the tongue providing the vertical joints is associated with the formation of mechanical joints by the processing of sheet material, which leads to costly material waste. Cause it.

For the best function, for example, a 15-mm thick parquet should have a strip approximately equal to the thickness of the floor, ie about 15 mm. 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 formats, thus increasing the number of running meters of the joint per square meter of floor.

Certainly, material waste can be reduced if the strip is used and this is in the form of a separately manufactured aluminum strip that is already fixed to the floorboard in the factory. Moreover, aluminum strips can make better or lower cost joints than strips processed and formed from cores in many applications. However, the disadvantage of aluminum strips is that the investment costs can be significant and expensive reconstruction of the plant may be necessary to modulate existing traditional production lines in order to be able to produce floorboards with such mechanical joint systems. However, the advantage of 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, then in this situation it is necessary to change the starting format. Therefore, the format of the floorboard should be adjusted so that there is enough material to form the strip and tongue. In stratified floors it is often necessary to also change the width of the decorative paper used. All of these adjustments and modifications also cost money to retrofit production equipment and to adapt to mass production.

In addition to the above mentioned problems with undesirable material waste and the cost of production and production adaptation, the strip has the disadvantage of being prone to damage during transport construction.

In summary, there is a need to provide a mechanical joint that maintains excellent properties for laying, winding, jointing and strength at the same time with 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 laying function. Therefore, the object of the present invention is to solve the cost reduction while maintaining the strength and function.

The present invention starts with a known floorboard having a core, front side, rear side and opposing joint edges. One of the edges is here formed as a tongue grove formed by the top and bottom lips and having a bottom end and the other as a tongue with an upward guide at the free outer end. The tongue grove takes the form of an undercut grove with an opening, an inner and an inner locking face. Since at least a portion of the lower lip is integrally formed with the core of the floorboard and the tongue has a locking surface that is designed to interact with the internal locking surface in the tongue groves of adjacent floorboards when two such floorboards are mechanically jointed, The front side of the floorboard meets in the joint 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 regarding the floorboard and the locking system for mechanically locking the 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. , As follows: The following description of the prior art also applies to embodiments of the invention as described below for 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, joint edges 4a and 4b and two opposing short sides with joint edges 5a and 5b. Is a rectangle. The joint edge portions 4a and 4b of the long side as well as the joint edge portions 5a and 5b of the short side can be mechanically jointed without glue in the direction D2 in FIG. 1C, so that the joint plane VP (shown in FIG. 2C) is shown. ) And has an upper side in the cavity surface plane HP (indicated in FIG. 2C) in the laying 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 joint plane VP at the joint edge 4a. The strip 6 can be mechanically attached according to the embodiment shown or else can be attached by glue or some other means. As mentioned above, it is also possible to use other strip materials, for example sheets of some other metal, aluminum or plastic section, as the strip material to be attached to the floorboard 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 strips 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 portion of the strip 6 which projects beyond the joint plane VP is formed of a locking element 8 extending along the entire strip 6. The locking element 8 has at its lower end an operable locking face 10 which faces the joint plane VP and has a height of, for example, 0.5 mm. In laying, this locking face 10 cooperates with a locking grove 14 made in the lower face 3 of the joint 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 joint edge 5b on the opposite short side has a corresponding locking grove 14 '. The edges of the locking groves 14, 14 ′ facing away from the joint plane VP form an operative locking face 10 ′ for cooperating with the operative locking face 10 of the locking element.

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

1a to 1c show a downward angle on the background U by how these two plates 1, 1 ′ pivot about a center C close to the intersection between the surface plane HP and the joint plane VP. It shows whether the plates remain in intimate contact with each other while being joined together in a downward angling.

2a to 2c show how the short sides 5a, 5b of the plates 1, 1 'can be jointed together by a snap action. The long sides 4a, 4b can be jointed by both methods, whereas the joints of the short sides 5a, 5b after laying the first row of floorboards are normally only after the long sides 4a, 4b are first joined. By snap action.

When the new plate 1 'and the previously laid plate 1 are jointed along the long side edge portions 4a and 4b according to Figs. 1a to 1c, the long side edge portion 4b of the new plate 1'. ) Is pressed against the long side edge portion 4a of the previously placed plate 1 according to FIG. 1A, so that the locking tongue 20 is inserted into the recess or tongue grove 16. The plate 1 'is then angled downwards towards the subfloor (rough floor) according to Figure 1b. The locking tongue 20 completely enters the recess or tongue grove 16 while the locking element 8 of the strip 6 snaps into the locking grove 14. During this downward angling, 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 laid plate 1.

In these jointed 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 of the joint (ie direction D3).

2a to 2c show by the new plate 1 ′ how the short side edge portions 5a, 5b of the plates 1, 1 ′ are displaced essentially horizontally towards the previously placed plate 1. It shows whether it can be mechanically jointed in the D2 direction as well as in the D1 direction. This can be done in the previously laid plate 1 in the adjacent row by inward angling according to FIGS. 1 a to 1c, in particular after the long side of the new plate 1 ′ has been jointed. In the first step of FIG. 2A, the beveled surface of the recess 16 and the locking tongue 20 interact so that the strip 6 ′ is forced as a direct result of joining 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 grove 14 ', thus actuating on the locking element 8' and in the locking grove 14 '. The locking faces 10, 10 ′ engage with each other.

By repeating the operations shown in FIGS. 1A-1C and 2A-2C, the entire floor can be laid gluelessly along all joint edges. Therefore, the previous floorboards of the type described above are firstly oriented horizontally by a new plate 1 ', usually by angling the long side downwards and along the long side of the previously laid plate 1 when the long side is locked ( It can be mechanically jointed by a short side which is snapped together in the direction D3). The plates 1, 1 ′ can be lifted again in the reverse order of laying without damaging the joint and then laid again. Some of these laying principles are also applicable in connection with the present invention.

In order to make the laying and lifting work best and easy, the prior art plates are provided with the operative locking face 10 'of the locking element and the operative locking face 10' of the locking grove 14 along the long side after the joint. The location should be such that there can be a minimum play between them. However, free space is not required in the actual butt joint between the plates in the joint plane VP (i.e. 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 operative locking surfaces 10, 10 'when the long sides of adjacent plates press against each other. This clearance facilitates the entry and exit of the locking element 8 in the locking groves 14, 14 ′. However, as described above, no free space is required in the joint between the plates where the surface plane HP and the joint plane VP intersect at the upper side of the floorboard.

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

* Angle the long side and snapping in the short side

* Long side snapping in-short side snapping in

* Angle the one side, angle the two plates upward, displace the new plate along the one side edge of the previous plate, and finally angle the two plates downward

The most common and most stable laying method is that the long side first angles downward and locks against other floorboards. As a result, the displacement in the locking position occurs toward the short side of the third floor plate, so that the short side can be snapped in. The laying may also be by one side, long side or short side and may be snapped with the other plate. The displacement in the locking position then takes place until the other side snaps with the third plate. These two methods require snapping in at least on one side. However, laying may also occur without snap action. In the third modification, the short side of the first plate is first angled inward toward the short side of the second plate, and the second plate is already jointed with the third plate on its long side. After this joining, the first and second plates are angled somewhat upwards. The first plate is moved to its upwardly angular position along its short side until the upper joint edges of the first and third plates contact each other, after which the two plates are collectively ingled downward.

The above-mentioned floorboard and its locking system have been very successful in the market in connection with a layered floor having a thickness of about 7 mm and an aluminum strip 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 disclosure is not particularly well suited for forming parquet with floorboards made of wood fiber-based materials, in particular large wood or glued layered wood. One of the reasons why this known technique is not suitable for this type of product is the large amount of material waste caused by the processing of the edges in forming tongue grooves with the required depth.

To partially solve this problem, it is possible to use the technique shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B of the accompanying drawings and described and illustrated in DE-A-3343601, ie the amount of individual elements attached to the long side edges. It was possible to form joint edges. This technique also 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 the downward and upward angles, respectively. This is because the elements do not move away from each other during these movements if they are made in tight fit (see FIG. 5B).

Another conventional design of a floorboard with 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 Figure 6a). When laying and lifting the floor, the material should be flexible to allow the tongue to be released by simultaneously rotating around two centers. The tight fit between all surfaces makes rotational manipulation and displacement in the locking position impossible. The short side surface 6c does not have a horizontal lock. However, this mechanical lock causes a large amount of material waste by the design of the large locking element.

One further known design of the mechanical locking element for plates is shown in GB-A-1430429 and in figures 7a and 7b of the accompanying drawings. The system is basically a tongue-and groove joint provided with an extra holding hook on an extended lip on one side of the tongue grove and a corresponding holding ridge formed on the upper side of the tongue. This system requires significant elastic force on the lip provided to the hook, and release cannot occur without breaking the joint edge of the plate. Airtight fittings make manufacturing difficult and the geometry of the joints 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 several drawbacks. It is difficult to manufacture in an efficient manner when high quality joints are desired in high quality flooring as well as a large amount of material wasted in manufacturing. Tongue-grown undercut groves can only be made using shank-end mills that move along the joint edge. Therefore, it is impossible to use large disc shaped cutting tools to machine the plate from the side edges.

For mechanical joints of different types of boards, 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 accompanying drawings) are both forms of waste with a small amount of waste but not allowing the release of the floorboard by upward angle. Describes the snap joint. In fact, these joint systems can be made in an efficient way using large disk-shaped cutting tools, but these joint systems are critical for locking systems where release by upward angling cannot be laid 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 sharp undercut groves. This known system also cannot be released by upper angling without a material having a large elastic force such that the upper and lower lips around the undercut grove are greatly deformed and pulled away.

Tongue-and-grove grooves with inclined groves and tongues are also proposed in accordance with US-A-1124228. The joints of this type, shown in figures 12c and 12d, make it impossible to push the new plate downwards on a tongue which is obliquely upward facing on the previously placed plate. To fix the newly laid 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 reliably causes a small amount of material waste, but it is not at all suitable when floating floors with individual floorboards that are undamaged, mounted and released in a simple way and have high quality joints should be provided.

DE-A-304181 describes and shows a locking system for making the joining of plates, in particular roller skating rings and bowling lanes of plastic material. Such a joint 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 grove is formed by parallel surface portions and a first portion parallel to the major 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). ) In cross section, the tongues 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 angled in an upward direction corresponding to the corresponding surface portion in the trapezoidal portion of the undercut grove. It has two flat-parallel portions.

The design of the edges of the plates as well as the tongue and the groves, when two such plates are mechanically jointed, on the one hand the undercuts of the inner plane parallel to the tongue as well as along the surface of the tongue and the entire upper and outer ends of the tongue Along the way there is a coupling between the corresponding surface portions of the undercut groves, on the other hand between the tongue and the edge surfaces of the plate jointed above and below the grooves, respectively. The new plate is angled upwards at an appropriate angle to insert the angled outside of the tongue into the outer plane-parallel portion of the grove in the previously laid plate. Thus, the tongue is inserted into the groove while the new plate is angled downward. Due to the annular shape of the tongue, a significant amount of free space is required in the first part of the grove to allow for this insertion and inward angling. 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 laid joint position, there is an engagement between the undercut grove and the major part of the tongue's surface except the downwardly angled outer bottom of the tongue.

A major drawback of mechanical locking systems according to DE-A-304181 is that they are difficult to produce. As a production method, it is proposed to use a mushroom-shaped shank and mill having an outside that creates a trapezoidal interior with a cross section of the tongue grove. This production method is not particularly rational 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 joints.

As mentioned above, a deficiency of this prior art mechanical locking system is that if the insertion of the angling tongue into the groove does not have a significant degree of elasticity in the plate material, it is angularly lowered to produce a significant amount of clearance between the tongue and the groove (DE-). A-3041781 and FIG. 13B of the accompanying drawings). Moreover, this downward angling cannot be performed if the new and previously laid plates are joined 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 the groove, respectively, so that the pivot center of the downward angling motion is Set to a point.

One drawback when connecting this prior art mechanical locking system according to DE-A-3041781 with a fairly thick plate of wood is that the displacement of the new plate along the previously laid plate in the laid or partially raised position along the large surface area. It is very difficult by the joining plates. 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 laying parquet or the like, it includes a long board (often 2-2.4-m long and 0.2-0.4-m wide) and essentially natural materials. This type of ledge is distorted and will therefore often deviate from the full bottom shape (the ledge has a "banana" shape). In these cases, if it is desired to mechanically lock the plates together on the short side as well, it will still make it more difficult to move the newly laid plates along the previously laid plates.

A further disadvantage of the mechanical locking system according to DE-A-3041781 is that it is made of wood or wood fibre-based materials and therefore high quality flooring, which requires a tight seal in the vertical direction between the tongue and the grove to prevent cracking. It is not very suitable to connect.

WO 9747834 describes floorboards having different types of mechanical locking systems. Locking systems (Figs. 2-4, 11 and 22-25 of this patent publication) which wish to lock the long sides of the plate together are designed to be mounted and released by means of connection and angling movements, 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 snap lock, but these locking systems on one side of the plate are broken or in some cases Esau cannot be disassembled without being damaged.

Some plates described in WO 9747834 and designed for connection and disassembly by angular motion (Figs. 2-4 of WO 9747834 and Figs. 14A to 14C of the accompanying drawings) have a grove at one edge thereof, and It has a strip that projects below the lobe and extends past the joint plane where the upper sides of the two joint plates meet. The strip is designed to cooperate with the essentially complementary part on the opposite edge of the plate, so that two similar plates can be joined together. 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 joint plane is made exclusively by the locking face on the lower side of the tongue on one side and on the upper side of the strip or lower lip under the grove on the other side. . These locking systems also have the drawback that the system requires a strip portion that extends beyond the joint plane, which can also cause material waste at the joint edge where the groove is formed.

WO 9747834 also includes circular-arc tongue and corresponding formed groves in opposite side edges of the floorboard (see accompanying figures 14D and 14E). When connecting this locking system, the tip of the tongue enters towards the opening of the arcuate grove, after which the downward angling begins. In this downward angling there is a large surface contact between all the arcuate surface of the tongue and the groove. If a joint system of this type is used for the flooring of wood or wood based materials, it is very difficult to achieve a smooth and simple bond. Moreover, the friction between the arcuate faces and the tip of the tongue and the bottom of the glove requires considerable force to move one plate along the other in these joint states. This prior art is certainly better than the technique described in DE-A-3041781 described above, but it also has many defects.

US-A-2740167 (also see FIGS. 15A and 15B of the accompanying drawings) is made of wood and has parquet or squares with edges that are hooked to each other when laying several parquet squares in one row at these opposite edges. Describe parquet boards or squares. One edge is a downward hook and the other opposite edge is an upward hook. To allow insertion of a new parquet under the previously laid parquet, the lower side of the upward hook is beveled. The parquet boards joined at the vertical joint plane are fixed in the horizontal direction only perpendicular to the joint plane. In addition, in order to fix the plate perpendicularly to the upper side of the parquet plate, a glue layer first spreading on the base on which the parquet is to be arranged is used. Therefore, the previously laid parquet can only be lifted once before the glue hardens. Therefore, in fact, the parquet is permanently anchored to the ground after laying.

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 the grove are rounded and obliquely angled upwards, placing the new plate close to the laid plate and then simultaneously lifting and angled it. One plate can then be joined to the other by pulling the grove down over the tongue facing obliquely upward while then joining together at the same time and angled downward. Complementary formation of the tongue and grove makes it difficult to connect and, optionally, to pull away the adjacent floorboard 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 damage to the tongue increases and the design causes a great friction between the grooves and the surfaces of the tongue.

US-A-5797237 describes a snap lock system for joining parquet plates. In the accompanying drawings, FIG. 17A shows a cross section of two joining plates, and FIG. 17B shows that this known floorboard cannot be dismantled by upwardly angled the plate relative to the remaining floorboard. Instead, as shown in FIG. 4B of this patent specification, both of the plates to 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 binding 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 join. In addition, such free space is required for the dismantling method as shown in Fig. 17C. Certainly, the joint system is said to be a snap joint, but perhaps the laying plate is angled slightly upwards to fit the tongue under the hook-shaped lip of the plate. Such mechanical locking systems can be manufactured with the aid of large disc shaped cutting tools, as also shown in this patent specification. In this locking system, there is no undercut grove with adjacent upper and lower lips facing the inserted tongue and lock both vertically and horizontally. The grove therefore has a greater vertical area than the corresponding part of the tongue. The laying floor can therefore move towards and away from the ground, which causes cracking and unacceptable vertical displacement in the joint. With insufficient locking, high quality joints cannot be obtained in either case.

FR-A-2675174 describes a mechanical joint system for ceramic tiles with oppositely formed opposite edges, in which case they 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 joint geometry.

Finally, FIGS. 20A and 20B show another known joint 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 joints in high quality floors are desired. Configurations according to GB publications use metal sections as connection elements and cannot be opened by upward angling.

Other prior art systems are described, for example, in DE 20013380U1, JP 200017913A, 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, a locking system that is best suited for the rational production of floorboards with locking systems that are best for production technology, material wastage, laying and lifting functions, and in addition they have high quality, strength and functionality in the laid state. There is no.

The present invention relates to a locking system for mechanical joints of floorboards, floorboards with such locking systems, methods of installing these floorboards, methods of making them, tools for installing floorboards as well as their use.

The present invention is particularly suitable for floorboards which are based on wood and, in normal cases, on wood as a core and are mechanically bonded. The following description of the prior art and the objects and features of the present invention therefore correspond to the field and above all, to rectangular parquet floors which are combined on the short side as well as the long side. The invention is particularly suitable for floating floors (FLOATING FLOOR), ie floors that can move relative to the base. However, the present invention is directed to all existing hardwood floors, such as homogeneous wood floors, wood floors with plate 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 any kind. Of course, the present invention can also be used in other types of floorboards that can be processed with cutting tools, such as plywood floorboards or particle boards. Although not good, the floorboard can be fixed to the ground after installation.

1a to 1c show in three stages a downward angling method for the mechanical engagement 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 coupling 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 floorboards according to DE-A-3343601.

6a to 6d show mechanical locking systems for the long and short sides, respectively, 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 plates according to DE-A-4242530.

9a and 9b show snap joints according to WO 9627721.

10a and 10b show snap joints according to JP 3169967. FIG.

11a and 11b show snap joints according to DE-A-1212275.

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

13a-d show a mechanical joint 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 joint system for ceramic tiles according to FR-A-2675174.

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

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

Figures 21A and 22B show schematically parallel parallel edge portions of a first preferred embodiment of a floorboard according to the invention.

Figure 22 schematically illustrates the basic principle of inwardly angling around an upper joint edge when using the present invention.

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

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

Figure 25 shows a modification of the present invention as well as snapping in and upward angling in combination with bending of the lower lip.

Figure 26 shows a modification of the invention with a short lip.

27A-27C illustrate a downward and upward angled method.

28A-28C illustrate a modified angling method.

29A and 29B illustrate a method of snapping in.

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

31a and 31b show two joining floorboards provided with a combination joint according to the invention.

32A-32D show inward angling of the combination joint.

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

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

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

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

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

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

39 illustrates a joint 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 constitutes an upper contact surface.

42A and 42B show an alternative embodiment of the present invention with long tongue as well as angling and pulling.

43A-43C show how the joint system is designed to facilitate snapping in.

44 shows the snapping in at an angling position.

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

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

47A and 47B illustrate a joint system according to the present invention having a lower lip composed of a material partially different from the core.

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

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

50 illustrates another joint system that may be used, for example, on the short side of the floorboard.

51A to 51F show a laying method.

52A and 52B show laying by a specially designed tool.

53 shows the engagement of the short sides.

54A and 54B show the snapping in on the short side.

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

56A-56E illustrate snapping in of the outer corners of the short sides.

57A-57E illustrate snapping in of the inner corner of the short side.

It is an object of the present invention to satisfy 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 having such a locking system. Another object of the present invention is to provide a new installation method that allows easier and more rational laying than previously made. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a tool that facilitates laying of floorboards by upward angling and joining of the floorboards. Another object of the present invention is to provide the use of such a tool for laying floorboards. Further objects of the present invention are apparent from the following description as well as the above description.

Summary of the Invention

Therefore, the floorboard and the openable locking system include an undercut grove on one long side of the floorboard and a protruding tongue on the opposite long side of the floorboard. The undercut grove has a corresponding upward inner locking face at a distance from the tip. The tongue and undercut groves are formed to be joined together in a pivotal motion and pulled away, the center point of the pivot being close to the intersection between the surface plane of the two adjacent floorboards and the common joint plane. Undercuts in the grooves of such locking systems are made by disc-shaped cutting tools, the rotating shafts of the disc-shaped cutting tools being inclined with respect to one another to first form the internals of the undercut portion of the grooves and then into the openings of the grooves. It forms a closely located locking face. The method of laying on the floor of these plates includes 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 grove of the previously placed plate, and turning the tongue into the undercut grove. Angle the new plate upward while simultaneously inserting the new plate downward to the final position.

However, the features of the locking system, floorboard and laying 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 a first pair of parallel sides and a second pair of parallel sides. 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 square.

High quality joint

High quality joints mean a tight fit in the locking position between the floorboards, both vertically and horizontally. The floorboards can be joined as well as in the unloaded state as well as in the normally loaded state without any difference in level or very large visible gap between the joint edges. In high quality floors, the difference in joint gap and level should be less than 0.2 and 0.1 mm respectively.

Downward angling and guiding due to rotation at the joint 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 angling. Downward angling should be able to occur by rotation around the center, which, when in contact with each other, constitutes the "upper joint edge" of the plate, ie close to the intersection between the joint plane and the surface plane of the floorboard. Otherwise, it is impossible to make a joint with a tight joint edge in the locking 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 joint edges. Inward angling should also occur in such a way that it simultaneously guides the floorboards towards each other in an airtight joint edge and does not become either banana shaped (ie deviating from the straight flat shape of the floorboard). The locking system and the locking grove have guiding means which cooperate with one another during inward angleling. Downward angling should occur very safely without hitting and pinching the plates with each other, which creates a risk of damaging the locking system.

Upward angle around the joint edge

Long sides should be angled upwards so that the floorboard is released. Since the plates in the starting position are joined with hermetic joint edges, this upward angling therefore also takes place at the upper joint edges which are in contact with each other and can occur with rotation at the joint edges. This possibility of upward angling is very important not only when changing floorboards but also when moving floors. Many floorboards have been laid or inaccurately placed adjacent to doors, such as in corners during installation. If the floorboard does not damage the joint system and cannot be released easily, it is a big fault. It is not always the case that a plate that can be angled inwards can also be angled upward again. In connection with the downward angling, some downward banding of the strip typically occurs, so that the locking element is bent and opened backwards downwards. If the joint system is not formed at the proper angle and radius, the plate can be locked in a way that is impossible to lift after laying. The short side is typically pushed along the joint edge after the long side joint is opened by upward angling, but it is also preferred if the short side can be opened by upward angling. This is particularly good when the plate is long, for example 2.4 m, which makes pulling of the short side difficult. The upward angling must occur very safely without hitting and pinching the plates with each other, which creates a risk of damaging the locking system.

Snapping Inn

One side shall be able to lock by horizontal snapping-in. This requires that parts of the joint system be soluble and bendable. Although the inward angling of the long side is much easier and faster than the snapping in, it is also desirable that the long side can be snapped in because in some laying operations, for example a round door, the plates must be horizontally engaged.

The cost of the material on the long and short sides

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

Horizontal strength

In order to obtain 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 when subjected to high tensile loads. This also applies to the material closest to the locking groves in other plates. Short-sided joints should have higher strength than long-sided joints because during the winter shrinkage the tension rods are distributed over shorter joint lengths along the short side rather than along the long side.

Vertical strength

It must be possible to maintain the plate plane when receiving a vertical rod. Moreover, motion in the joints should be avoided because the surfaces under pressure and moving relative to each other, for example the upper joint edges, may cause cracking.

Displacement

In order to be able to lock all four sides, the newly laid plate must be able to be displaced in the locking position along the previously laid plate. This displacement occurs by damaging the joint edges and without creating a clearance where the joint 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. The possibility of displacement is more important on the long side than on the short side because the friction is essentially greater in the longer joints.

production

It must be possible to reasonably produce joint 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 joint profile can be measured and checked continuously. An important part of a mechanical joint system should be designed in a way that 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 joint system is produced with linear cutting, the joint system will have the same profile across the entire edge, except for any production error. Therefore, the joint 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 joint 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 angling, up angling, positioning and displaceability, while the short side should be best for snapping in and high strength. Therefore, the best designed floorboards should have different joint systems in the long and short sides.

Possibility of transverse movement of the joint 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 may move more than the core, part of which forms a joint system. In order to prevent the upper joint edge from being raised or pressed in the event of high expansion, or to prevent a joint gap from drying, the joint system must be configured to allow compensating motion 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 angled or snapped together.

The prior art system according to FIGS. 9A-16B can produce mechanical joints that waste more 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.

The snap joint according to FIGS. 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 18, and 19 (for example, FIG. 7 described herein includes FIGS. 7A and 7B and is simply described). It cannot be locked or opened by pivot motion around the upper part of the joint edge, and the joint according to FIGS. 8, 11 and 19 cannot be reasonably produced by machining of sheet material with a rotary cutting tool having a large tool diameter.

The floorboard according to FIGS. 12A and 12B cannot be angled or snapped, but must first be pushed in parallel with the joint edge. The joint 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 joint system. The strength in the vertical direction is small because the upper and lower mating surfaces are parallel. The joint also contains no free surface, making it difficult to produce and move within the locking position. Furthermore, it is proposed to use nails that are nailed obliquely into the floorboard on the tongue facing obliquely upward by nailing to the ground.

The joint system according to FIGS. 6c and 6d, 15a and 15b and 17a and 17b is an example of a joint which does not have a vertical lock, ie allows movement perpendicular to the upper side of the plate.

According to the principle that the inwardly angular joint according to FIGS. 14d and 14e should have a tight fit and the top and bottom of the grove and tongue go along a circular arc having a center point at the upper joint edge, i.e. an intersection between the joint plane and the surface plane. Because it is manufactured and constructed, it has a number of defects. This joint does not have the necessary guiding part, and it is difficult to angle together because the joint has an incorrect design and a too large mating surface. In the end, the joints pinch and have a drawer effect during the so-called inward angling. The strength in the horizontal direction is too small, depending on the lower locking angle, and the angular difference between the upper and lower engaging surfaces is too small. Moreover, the front and upper upward angled portions of the tongue groves are too small to manage the forces required for a high quality joint system. Too large a contact surface between the tongue and the grove, the absence of the necessary free surface without contact and the requirement for a tight fit within the entire joint, makes the lateral displacement of the floorboard along the joint edge significantly more difficult and the possibility of achieving good errors Makes rational production difficult. Nor can they snap together in the horizontal direction.

The joint system according to FIGS. 16A and 16B has a design that cannot be angled together without a significant degree of material deformation, making it difficult to achieve with conventional plate materials suitable for flooring. Also in this case, all parts of the tongue and the grove are in contact with each other. This makes the side displacement of the plate in the locking position difficult or impossible. 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 joint system according to FIGS. 6A and 6B cannot be angled together because they are configured to move simultaneously around two pivot centers. There is no horizontal lock in the tongue grove. All surfaces remain in contact with each other with a hermetic fit. In practice, the joint 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 joint system according to FIGS. 8A and 8B has a tongue grove that cannot be manufactured with a rotary cutting tool having a large tool diameter. It cannot be snapped and is configured to prevent lateral displacements by the initial stress and a tight fit adjacent the outer vertical part of the strip.

The joint system according to FIGS. 5a and 5b comprises two aluminum sections. Production with rotary cutting tools with large tool diameters to form tongue groves is impractical. The joint system is formed such that it is impossible to angle the new plate inward by the upper joint edge of the new plate which is kept in contact with the upper joint edge of the previously laid plate, so that the inward angle ring is It occurs around the pivot center at the intersection between them. In order to allow inward angling when using this prior art system, it is necessary to have considerable clearance beyond what is acceptable in a normal floorboard where a high quality, psychologically good joint is required. The joint 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 grove. This also makes lateral displacement difficult in the locking position. The joint geometry disables upward angling around the upper joint 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 grove at a distance from the joint plane. Therefore, the shape of the joint 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 floorboards and locking systems.

The present invention is also based on the second knowledge of the conditions that must be satisfied by the best functioning mechanical joint system. This knowledge is not previously known, that is to say a) the design of a joint having a certain angle, radius, clearance, free surface and ratio between different parts of the system, for example, 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 joint system with low production costs while maintaining functionality and strength, or even in some cases improved by manufacturing techniques, joint design, material selection and best of both long and short sides. Based on third knowledge.

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

According to the first aspect of the invention, therefore, all of the floorboards 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 this locking system for mechanically joining the corresponding side of another floorboard with the same locking system as the four sides.

The floorboard can have a detachable mechanical joint system, known form on both sides, which can be laterally moved and locked to the locking position by inward angled around the upper joint edge or by horizontal snapping. The floorboard has a locking system according to the invention on two other sides. The floorboard can also have a locking system according to the invention on all 4 sides.

Therefore, at least two opposite sides of the floorboard have a joint system designed according to the invention and comprising a tongue and tongue groves formed by upper and lower ribs, the outer and upper part of the tongue having an upwards portion. The inner top of the tongue grove has an undercut. The undercut of the tongue grove and the upper portion of the tongue in the upper lip have a locking surface that counteracts and prevents horizontal separation in the transverse direction D2 of the joint plane. The tongue and tongue grove also have a cooperative support surface which prevents vertical separation in the direction D1 parallel to the joint plane. This support surface is found at least on the bottom of the tongue and on the lower lip of the tongue grove. At the top, the cooperative locking face may act as the top support surface, but the upper lip of the tongue and tongue grove may preferably have a separate top support surface. Tongues, tongue groves, 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 grove and its undercut by an inwardly angular motion to the center of rotation near its intersection between the joint plane and the surface plane, and the tongue has a floorboard with the upper joint edge of the adjacent floorboard. It may be released from the tongue grove if it is pivoted or angled up at the contacted upper joint edge. For ease of production, measurement, inward angling, upward angling and lateral displacement of the joint in the longitudinal direction and to reduce any problems caused by counteracting creaking and flooring material expansion / contraction, the joint system It is formed with surfaces that are not in contact with each other during inward angling and in the locking position.

According to a second aspect of the invention, the floorboard has two edge portions with a joint system according to the invention, where the plates remain in contact with each other and their upper joint edges are at the intersection between the joint plane and the surface plane. By causing the pivot to occur about the pivot center close to this point, the tongue with the upward portion can be inserted and released into the tongue grove and its undercut by the downward and upward angle, respectively. Moreover, the locking system can be snapped together by horizontal displacement, in essence, the lower part of the tongue grove is bent and the locking element of the tongue snaps into the locking grove. Alternatively or additionally, the tongue can be made flexible to facilitate this snapping in on the short side after the long sides of the floorboard are joined. Therefore, the invention also relates to a snap joint which can be released by upward angle of the upper joint edge in contact with each other.

According to a third aspect of the invention, the floorboard has two edge portions with a joint system formed in accordance with the invention, wherein the tongue snaps into the tongue grove if the plate is held in an upwardly angled position and then the upper joint edge It can be angled downward by pivot motion around. In the upwardly angular position, the upper joint edges are brought into contact with each other, and then the plate in this position is translated into the tongue until the downward angling takes place for final engagement of the tongue and tongue groves and for locking together. By moving to the grove, the tongue can be partially inserted into the tongue grove. Since the lower lip can be shorter than the upper lip, greater degrees of freedom can be obtained 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 a basic principle that should be satisfied with a tongue-and-grove joint that can be angled inwardly with the upper joint edge in contact with each other and can be snapped in with minimal bending of the joint portion. The present invention also describes how the material properties can be used to achieve great strength and low cost by combining angling and snapping as well as laying 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.

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 joint 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 the cross-sectional view of the joint between the long side edge portion 4a of the plate 1 and the opposite long side edge portion 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 joint edges 4a, 4b engage each other in the vertical joint 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 joint plane VP. However, during laying the floor by placing the plates in parallel rows, one plate 1 ′ can be displaced along the other plate 1 in the direction D2 along the joint plane VP (see FIG. 3A). Such a displacement can be used, for example, to lock together floorboards which are positioned in the same row.

In order to join the two joint edge portions perpendicular to the vertical plane VP and parallel to the horizontal plane HP, the edges of the floorboards are in one edge part 4a of the floorboard inside the joint plane VP in a known manner. It has a tongue 38 formed in the tongue grove 36 and the other joint edge portion 4b and protruding beyond the joint plane VP.

In this embodiment, the plate 1 has a core 30 of wood which supports the surface layer 32 of wood on the front side and the balancing layer 34 on the back side. The plate 1 is rectangular and has a second mechanical locking system on two parallel short sides. This locking system may have the same design as the long side locking system, but the short side locking system 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 invention can also be used in square 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 grove 36 in one joint edge 4a of the plate and a tongue 38 on the opposite joint edge 4b of the plate.

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

The different parts of the tongue grove 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 grove there is an upper edge or joint edge surface 41 which extends to the surface plane HP. Inside the opening of the tongue grove there is in this case an upper engagement or support surface 43 parallel to the surface plane HP. This engagement or support surface is an inclined locking surface 43 having a locking angle A with respect to the horizontal plane HP. Inside the locking face, there is a surface portion 46 which forms the upper boundary surface of the undercut portion 35 of the tongue groove. The tongue grove further has a bottom end 48 extending down to the lower lip 40. On the upper side of this lip there is an engagement or support surface 50. The outer end of the lower lip has a joint edge surface 52 and in this case extends slightly beyond the joint 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 joint plane VP when this joint edge portion 4b mechanically engages with the joint edge portion 4a of the adjacent floorboard. The joint edge portion 4b also has an upper edge portion or an upper joint edge surface 61 extending along the joint 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 engagement or support surface 64 which extends up to the inclined locking surface 65 of the upper part 8 close to the tip of the tongue. The locking face 65 consists of a guiding surface 66 which ends in the upper face 67 of the upwards 8 of the tongue. Following the surface 67 is a bevel that can act as a guiding surface 68. This bevel extends to the tip 69 of the tongue. At the lower end of the tip 69 there is a guiding surface 70 and a mating or supporting 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 coupled and the upper joint edge surfaces 41 and 61 of the plates are joined together, these upper surfaces are positioned within the same surface plane HP and are here It is used to cooperate with the support surface 50 of the lower lip to meet in the vertically facing joint plane VP. The tongue has a lower joint edge surface 72 extending to the lower side.

In this embodiment, there are respectively tongue groves and tongues individually engaging or supporting surfaces 43, 64, which engage with each other in the locked state and cooperate with the lower lip and tongue-supporting lower supporting surfaces 50, 71 respectively. Locking is provided in a direction D1 perpendicular to the plane 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 engaging surfaces 43, 64 cooperate as upper support surfaces in the system.

As can be seen in the figure, the tongue 38 extends beyond the joint plane VP and has an upward portion 8 at the free outer end or tip 69. The tongue is also mechanically coupled to the two plates so that when the front side meets in the joint plane VP positioned in the same surface plane HP and facing perpendicularly thereto, the locking face in the tongue grove 36 of the adjacent floorboard. It has a locking surface 65 which is formed to cooperate with 45.

As can be seen from FIG. 21B, the tongue 38 has a surface portion 52 between the locking face 51 and the joint plane VP. When the two floorboards are combined, the surface portion 52 engages with the surface portion 45 of the upper lip 8. To facilitate the insertion of the tongue into the undercut grove by inward angling or snapping in, the tongue has a bevel 66 between the locking face 65 and the surface portion 57 as shown in FIGS. 21A and 21B. Has Moreover, the bevel 68 can be positioned between the tip portion 69 and the surface portion 57 of the tongue. The bevel 66 can act as a guiding part 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 a bevel 70 between the support surface of the tongue and the tip 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 grove. When the two floorboards engage with each other, there is an engagement between the support surfaces 50, 71 and an engagement of the upper lip 39 or between the support surface 43 and the corresponding engagement of the tongue or support surface 64. In this way, the plate is locked in a direction D1 perpendicular to the surface plane HP.

According to the invention, viewed parallel to the surface plane HP, at least a major part of the bottom end 48 of the undercut grove is more from the joint plane VP than at the outer end or tip 69 of the tongue 38. It is located far away. This design greatly simplifies manufacturing and facilitates displacement of one floorboard relative to another floorboard along the joint 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 from point C (where the surface plane HP and the joint plane VP intersect). The part lies outside the plane LP2. This plane LP2 is located further from the point C than the locking plane LP1 parallel to the plane LP2 and tangential to the undercut grove 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. By this design, as will be described in more detail below, the undercut grove 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 and 40 of the joint edge portions 4a and 5b have one floorboard, the surface plane HP and the joint plane. It is designed to disassemble the two mechanically coupled floorboards by pivoting them upwards around the pivot center close to the intersection point (C) between (VP), since the tongue of this floorboard is pivoted from the undercut groves of the other floorboards. Is there.

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

In the first method, the plate 1 'is grounded and the narrow tip 69 of the tongue 38 moves towards the previously laid plate 1' after it is inserted into the opening of the undercut grove 36. . The floorboard 1 'is then angled upward to contact the tops 41, 61 of the plates on both sides of the joint plane VP. While maintaining this contact, the plate is angled downward by pivoting around the pivot center (C). The insertion slides the bevel 66 of the tongue along the locking face 45 of the upper lip 39 while the bevel 70 of the tongue 38 faces the outer edge of the upper side of the lower lip 40. It happens by sliding. The locking system can then be opened by pivoting the floorboard 1 'upwardly by pivot around the pivot center C near the intersection between the surface plane HP and the joint plane VP.

In a second way, a new plate with a tongue grooved joint edge 4a is moved towards the joint edge 4b with the tongue of a previously laid plate 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 joint plane, and then until the plate reaches its final locking position. Pivot the tongue and grove downwards together. According to the following description, the floorboard can also be joined by moving one plate to an upwardly angled position towards the other plate.

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

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

In order to facilitate the possibility of displacement in manufacturing, inwardly angling, upward angling, snapping in and locking positions and to minimize the risk of cracking, all non-operated surfaces form airtight upper joint edges and vertical and horizontal joints And thus 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 error in these joint portions and reduces the friction of lateral displacements along the joint edges. Examples of surfaces and parts of the joint system that are not in contact with each other in the locking position are 46-67, 48-69, 50-70 and 52-72.

The joint 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 joint systems 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 snap function is formed at the upper soft and flexible part. Note that the joint system can also be made in homogeneous floorboards.

Fig. 22 shows roughly the basic principle of inwardly angling around point C (upper joint edge) when the present invention is used. FIG. 22 shows roughly how the locking system can angle inward around the upper joint edge. In this inward angling, the part of the joint system is made along a circular arc in the prior art and has a center C close to the intersection between the surface plane HP and the joint plane VP. Tongues and groves can be formed in many different ways if large clearances between all parts of the joint system are allowed, or if substantial changes are possible during inward angling. On the other hand, if the joint system must have a contact surface that prevents vertical and horizontal separation without any clearance between the joining or supporting surfaces, and if material deformation is not possible, the joint system should be constructed according to the following principles.

The upper part of the joint system is formed as follows. C1B has a center C at the top at the upper joint edges 41, 61 and in this preferred embodiment an arc that intersects the point of contact between the top of the tongue 38 and the upper lip 39 at point P2. to be. All other contact points between P2, P3, P4 and P5 between the upper lip 39 and the top 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 joint 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.

Joint systems constructed in accordance with the present preferred embodiment may have good inward angling properties. It can be easily combined with top engagement or support surfaces 43, 64 that are parallel to the horizontal plane HP and can therefore provide good vertical locking.

23a and 23b show how the joint system according to FIGS. 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 grove. 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 tip 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 joint plane into which the tool can be inserted into the previously formed tongue grove. 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 a prior art and does not constitute part of the manufacturing method according to the invention to be described below.

24A and 24B show another variation of the present invention. This embodiment is characterized in that the joint system is formed completely according to the basic principle of inwardly angling around the upper joint 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 joint 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.

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, 65) positioned between the interior 48 of the tongue and the point P4 satisfy the state of being positioned on C1 or on the outside. do. The corresponding state is satisfied with respect to the contact surface between the lower lip 40 and the tongue 38. All the 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 the arc 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.

In this embodiment, in particular, all the contact surfaces between the contact point P4 and the joint plane VP, in this case the point P5 and the interior 48 of the tongue grove, respectively, are located on the inner and outer sides of the arc C1, respectively. It is characterized in that it is set and therefore 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 groves, respectively, are on the outer side and inside of the arc C2. It is positioned on the side and is therefore not located on arc C2. As is evident from the part shown by the dashed line in Fig. 24A, if the joint system satisfies this condition, the inward angling is essentially terminated by locking the plates to 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 motion that can be terminated. Therefore, the present invention can combine inward angling and upward angling without resistance and lock into a high quality joint. If the lower support surfaces 71 and 50 are made at a slightly lower angle, the joint system will only have the two described above, the point P4 on the upper lip and the point P7 on the lower part of the tongue inward until the final locking takes place. During angling and during the entire upward angling until the plates are dismantled from each other, it may be provided if it is the point of contact between tongue grove 36 and tongue 38. With ease or simply locking in line contact, the joint system is of great advantage because it does not strike and pinch parts of the system that are at risk of damage, and because the friction is low and the plates are easily angled inwards and angled upwards. In particular, press fitting in the vertical direction is very important in terms of strength. If there is a clearance between the engagement or support surface, the plate, upon receiving the tension rod, slides along the locking surface until the lower engagement or support surface is positioned by press fit. Therefore, the free space arises from both the joint gap and the difference in level between the upper joint edges. For example, with airtight or press fit, high strength is achieved if the locking face has an angle of about 40 ° to the surface plane HP and the lower engagement 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 °. High locking angles and large differences in angles between the locking and supporting angles must be realized. This is because this results in a large horizontal locking force. The locking and supporting surfaces can be made arcuate or stepped, with some angles, etc., 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 joint 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 in space can be inwardly angled at these upper joint edges. This can be used to increase the locking angle and increase the angular difference between the locking angle and the support angle.

The basic principle of inward angling therefore shows that the main parts are the locking surfaces 45, 65 and the lower support surfaces 50, 71. Further, for example, the upper support surfaces 43, 64, the guiding 44 of the locking grove, the guiding 66 and the upper surface 67 of the locking element 8, the tongue groves ( It is shown that there is a large degree of freedom for the design of the interior 48, 49 and the lower lip 40 of 36, the guiding and 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 not only in the locking position but also during inward angle and up angled angles. These parts are not in contact with each other. This allows these parts to be formed without large error conditions and to secure inward and upward angling and also low friction forces with the joint plane VP (connected with the lateral displacement of the joined plate along the direction D3). Contributes to ease of manufacture, free space means that the joint part does not have any functional meaning to prevent displacement along the joint edge and the vertical or horizontal displacement in the locking position. Deformable contact points can be considered equivalent to free surfaces.

Angling around the upper joint edge will be facilitated, as described above, if the joint system is configured such that when the joint edges of the plates are pressed together, in particular there may be a small clearance between the locking faces 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, allows inward angling to the locking surface with a slope greater than the tangent (LP1), Contributes to compensating for expansion of the joint edge. Above all, due to this small clearance and also by the angle at which the sliding rod position is essentially smaller than the angle of the lower support surface, ie the locking angle, the clearance is provided between conventional engagement 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 joining position, free space may not exist. That is, it can be zero, and the joint system can be configured so that the free space only appears when the plate presses the joint edges of the plates to the maximum. As is known, larger clearances of about 0.05 mm also result in very high quality joints, since they are found in the surface plane HP and hardly see joint gaps that can occur in the tension rod position.

It should be appreciated that the joint system can be constructed without any clearance between the locking faces.

Free space between the locking face and material compression and bending of the joint part on the locking face are measured at the pre-loaded rod where the joint system is easily subjected to the tension rod and the joint gap at the upper joint edges 41 and 61 is less than the strength of the joint system. As such, it can be easily measured directly. Strength means that the joint system is not broken or snapped out. Suitable tensile rods are about 50% of strength. As a non-limiting standard value, it can be said that the long side joint has a strength in excess of 300 kg per running meter of the joint. The unilateral joint will still have greater strength. The parquet with a suitable joint system according to the invention can withstand 1000 kg of tension rod per running meter of the joint. The high quality joint system should have a joint gap at the upper joint edges 41 and 61 of about 0.1-0.2 mm when subjected to tension rods at about half the maximum strength. The joint gap is reduced when the rod is stopped. By changing the tension rod, the relationship between the clearance and the material deformation in construction can be determined. In the case of low tensile rods, the joint gap is essentially one measure of the clearance in construction. In the case of high tensile rods, the joint gap is increased by material deformation. Since the joint system may also consist of a press fit between the locking face and the support face and a built-in initial stress, the above-mentioned joint gap is not visible in the case of the rod described above.

The clearance between the locking face in combination with the geometry of the joint system, the compression of the material around the upper joint edges 41, 61 can also be measured by making the joint sawtooth in the transverse direction of the joint edge. Since the joint system is made by linear machining, it will have the same profile along the entire joint 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 samples from each joint edge give the joint system a very reliable picture. After grading the sample and washing with loose fibers so that sharp profiles can be seen, the sample can be analyzed for joint geometry, material compression, bending, and the like. For example, the two joint parts can be compressed by a force that does not damage the joint system, in particular the upper joint edges 41, 61. The clearance between the locking surfaces and the joint 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 in two smaller areas of the floorboard in determining the average clearance, 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 upward portion 8 of the tongue has a guiding portion 66. The guiding part of the locking element comprises a part having an inclination of the locking surface and in this case also an inclination lower than that of the tangent TL1. The proper inclination of the tool producing the locking face 45 is indicated in this embodiment by TA2, such as tangent TL1.

The locking face 45 of the tongue grove also has a guiding portion 44 which cooperates with the guiding portion 66 of the tongue during inward angling. In addition, the guiding portion 44 includes portions having an inclination smaller than that of the locking surface.

At the front of the lower lip 40 there is a round guiding portion 51 which cooperates with the radius of the lower part of the tongue connected to the lower engagement surface 71 at point P7 and facilitates inward angleling.

The lower lip 40 may be elastic. In connection with inward angling, 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 for the locking face. 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 angling, the lip can be bent 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 it is easy to make inward angling. Flexible lips can be combined at significantly higher locking angles. If the locking angle is small, a large amount of tension rods will push the lip down, thus resulting in a level difference between the joint gap and the joint edge which is undesirable.

Both tongue groves 36 and 38 have guiding portions 42, 51 and 68, 70 that guide the tongue into the grove and facilitate snapping in and inward angling.

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. An advantage is that there is greater freedom in designing the locking grove 45 with a high tool angle TA, while at the same time a fairly large tool can be used. To facilitate snapping in by downward bending of the lower tip 40, the tongue grove 36 is made deeper than the required space for the tip of the tongue 38. The dashed joint edge 4b shows how the parts of the system relate to each other by connecting inwardly angling around the upper joint edge, while the dashed joint edge 4b shows that the joint edge 4b is a joint. 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 snapping-in of the tongue with the tongue grove.

Fig. 26 shows a further modification of the basic principle described above. The joint system here is formed of a locking face that is angled at 90 ° to the surface plane HP and is significantly more angled than the tangent TL1. However, this good locking face is openable by upward angling because the locking face is very small and the joint 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 face allows snapping in with only a slight downward bending of the lower lip, as shown by the dashed line.

27A to 27C show a laying method by inward angledling. For ease of explanation, one plate is referred to as the grove plate and the other plate is referred to as the tongue plate. In fact, the plates are the same. Possible laying methods include placing the tongue plate flat on the sub-floor, either loose or in combination with another plate on one, two or three sides, depending on where the plate is positioned within the laying process / heat. . The upper lip 39 of the grove plate is partly placed on the outside of the tongue 38 so that the upper joint edges contact each other. The grove plate then rotates down towards the subfloor and is pressed against the joint 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 downward until the portion of the upper lip 39 contacts the portion of the upper portion or the portion of the locking element 8 and the lower lip 40 of the tongue contacts the portion of the lower portion of the tongue. Rotate In this way any bends of the sides are straightened and the plate can be angled to the final position and locked.

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

In summary, downward angling can actually be performed as follows. The groove plate is moved at an angle toward the tongue plate, and the tongue groove passes through a portion of the tongue. The grove plate is pressed towards the tongue plate and angled downward gradually, for example using compression at the center of the plate and then at both edges. If the upper joint edges come close to or come into contact with each other over the entire plate, and the plate takes an angle to the subfloor, the final downward angling can be made.

Once the plates are engaged, the plates can be displaced in the locking position in the joint direction, ie parallel to the joint edges.

28A-28C show how corresponding laying is achieved by angling the tongue plate with a grove plate.

29A and 29B illustrate a joining method by snapping in. As the plates move horizontally with each other, the tongue is guided to the grove. During continuous compression, the lower lip 40 is bent and the locking element 8 snaps into the locking grove or undercut 35. A good joint system illustrates the basic principle of snapping in, where it should be noted that the lower lip is flexible. The joint system, of course, must be adjusted to the bending capacity of the material and the depth of the tongue groves 36, the height of the locking element 8 and the thickness of the upper lip 40 and dimensioned so that snapping in is feasible. The basic principle of a joint 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 laying method described can be used selectively and in combination with each other on all four sides. After laying one side, the side displacement usually takes place in the locking position.

In some cases, upward angling of the two plates usually takes place in connection with the inward angling of the short side as a first actuation, for example. FIG. 30 shows the first plate 1, the upwardly angled second plate 2a and the new upwardly angled third plate 2b, already on the short side of the third plate 2b. Is combined. After the new plate 2b has been angled upward and laterally displaced 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 jointly angled down 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 which is partially inserted into the tongue grove, and the top It is necessary that the tongue of the new plate 2b can be inserted into the tongue grove when the joint edge is in contact with the upper joint edge of the first plate 1. 30 shows that the joint system can be made with this design of tongue grooves, tongues and locking elements where this is possible.

All laying methods require displacement at the locking position. One exception to the lateral displacement in the locking position is when several plates are joined on a short side, and then the entire row is placed at the same time. But this is not a reasonable method of laying.

31A and 31B show a portion of a floorboard provided with a combination joint. Tongue groove 36 and tongue 38 may be formed according to one of the embodiments described above. Underneath the grove plate has a known strip 6 with a locking element 8b and a locking face 10. The tongue side has a locking grove 35 according to a known embodiment. In this embodiment, the locking element 8b with a fairly large guiding portion 9 will function as an extra guiding during the first portion of the inwardly angling and facilitate the first portion of the inwardly angling when positioning takes place. And which banana shape is straightened. The locking element 8b causes automatic positioning and compression of the floorboard until the guiding portion of the tongue engages the locking grove 35 and a final locking can take place. Laying is quite easy and the joint will be very strong by the cooperation of the two locking systems. Such joints are particularly convenient for joining large parquet surfaces in public rooms. In the example shown, the strip 6 is attached to the grove side, but can also be attached to the tongue side. The positioning of the strip 6 is therefore optional. Moreover, the joint can be both snapped in and up angled and can be laterally displaced in the locked position.

Of course, such joints may optionally be used in other variations on the long side and the short side, and may optionally be combined with all the joint variations and other known systems described herein.

A convenient combination is a snap 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 face at a high locking angle. The locking system according to the present embodiment can of course be made snappable and also with strips of selective width, which do not protrude outwardly outward of the upper lip 39, for example as in the case of the embodiment according to FIG. 50. (6). The strip need not be continuous over the entire length of the joint, but may consist of several small parts attached with spaces between both the long and short sides.

Since the locking element 8b and its locking groves 35 can be formed at different angles, heights and radii which can be arbitrarily selected, they prevent separation or facilitate inward angled or snapping in.

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

33 and 34 show production-specific and top joint systems, especially for floorboards with a core of wood. 33 shows how the long sides can be formed in the ridges. In this case, the joint system is in particular best for inward angling, upward angling and a small amount of material waste. 34 shows how a short side can be formed in the parquet. In this case, the joint system is best for snapping in and high strength. These differences are as follows. The locking element of tongue 38 and short side 5a is longer when measured in the horizontal plane. This gives a higher shear strength in the locking element 8. If tongue grove 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 engaging surface has a lower angle. The guiding portions of the locking elements and the long sides 4a, 4b in the locking groves are larger for best guiding, and at the same time the contact surfaces between the locking surfaces are smaller because the requirements of strength are lower for the single side. The joint system on the long side and the short side may be composed of different materials or material properties on the upper lip, the lower lip and the tongue, which in terms of function and strength, have different desirable properties for the long side and the short side, respectively. It can be adjusted to contribute to the best.

35 shows in detail how a joint system of floorboards can 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 this overbending should be adjusted for the wood of the core and best for compression and flexible stiffness, inward angling and upward angling can still occur. The contact surface of the locking surface is to be minimized and the properties of the core must be adjusted.

When the plates are engaged, 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 grove 14. The main part constitutes a rounded, inclined or bent guiding part which is not in contact with each other during inward and up angled angles in the engagement position.

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

In this case, the locking faces 45, 65 are planar and parallel. This is particularly good for the locking face 55 of the locking grove. If the tool is displaced parallel to the locking face 45, this provides a higher quality joint more easily without affecting the vertical distance to the joint 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 grove. This essentially causes a relaxed inward angle during the full angular motion. 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, angling may occur 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 angling of the plate with the geometry according to FIG. 35, so that its locking face 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 inward and upward angling, the overlap at points P4 and P7 will be very small. Point P may be angled depending on the combination of materials being compressed at upper joint edges K1, K2 and at points P4, K3, K4, while at the same time upper lip 39 and 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 joint 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 angling and snapping. . In the same way, the arc C2 can be formed in many different ways without the interference of the possibility of angling and snapping the inside of the tongue grove and the outside of the tongue according to the previous preferred principle.

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 in the figure represent areas in which the joint surfaces on both sides are not in contact with each other at least within the engagement position, but preferably also during inward angleling. The contact between the tongue and the tongue groves in these regions S1-S5 improves locking only at the edge in the D1 direction and does not improve locking at all in the D1 direction. However, the contact prevents inward angling and lateral displacements and, in conjunction with manufacturing, causes unnecessary error problems and increases undesirable consequences such as risk of cracking and plate expansion.

The tool angle TA indicated as TA4 in FIG. 38D forms the locking face 44 of the undercut 35 and operates at the same angle as the angle of the locking face and is positioned inside the vertical plane towards the tongue grove. The part of the tool 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 inwardly and snapping in within the locking 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 grove 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 mating surface has only a contact surface of 10% of the floor thickness T. As described above, the locking system has a plurality of regions S1-S5 that make up the free surface without contacting each other in this embodiment. The space between these free surfaces and the remaining surfaces of the joint system may be filled with glue, sealants, other types of fillers, lubricants, and the like within the scope of the present invention. Free surface here means the shape of the surface in the joint system obtained in connection with the machining by each cutting tool.

The joints have airtight fittings, and the locking faces 45, 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 joint system is larger when this locking angle is greater and there is an angular difference between the locking angle HLA of the locking surfaces 45 and 65 and the engagement angle VLA2 of the lower support surfaces 50 and 71. Greatly increases. The engagement angle is smaller than the locking angle. If high strength is not required, the locking face can be formed with respect to the lower mating face at a small angle and at a small difference in angle.

For good joints in the floating floor, the locking angle (HLA) and the difference in angle to the lower support surface (HLA-VLA2) 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 joint system according to the invention can be formed by still making the difference in locking angle and angle larger.

A large number of tests were conducted with different locking and mating angles. These tests demonstrate that high quality joint systems can be obtained at locking angles between 40 ° and 45 ° and mating 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 guiding part is formed and sufficient material is made available in the upper lip 39 between the locking face 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 grove must be 2% deeper than the projection PA of the tongue from the joint plane VP. The smallest distance of the upper lip to the floor surface adjacent to the locking grove 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 joint system on the short side may be composed of several different materials and material combinations 30b and 30c, which may also differ from the long side joint material 30. For example, the short side tongue grove 36 may have a different property than, for example, a long side core, and may be made of harder and more flexible wood than the tongue 38, which may be rigid and rigid. have. It is possible to select a kind of wood 30b that is more flexible than a piece of wood 30c on the short side with the tongue grove 36, for example on the other short side on which the tongue is to be formed. This is particularly convenient for parquet with layered cores consisting of different types of wood, the upper side and the lower side, of which blocks are 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, the blocks positioned between the 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 laying, strength and the like. Different properties can also be obtained with different fiber orientations on the long side and 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 manufacture of the joint edge and tongue grove 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 grove at a large locking angle in the tongue grove with a lower lip, the tongue grove extending beyond the undercut grove.

To simplify the understanding and comparison with the joint system described previously, 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 form the upper joint edge.

An important tool is the tool TP4, which forms the locking face with the outside of the locking grove. 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 essentially large angles. 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.

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

The method of forming the tongue grooves 36 in the floorboard is now described in detail, having a joint edge portion 4a having an upper side 2 in the surface plane HP and a joint plane VP perpendicular to the upper side. do. The tongue grove is formed by two ribs 39, 40 extending from the joint plane 4a and each having a free outer end. In at least one lip, the tongue grove has an undercut 35 comprising a locking face 45 and is positioned further away from the joint 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 motion with respect to each other and parallel to the joint edge of the plate. 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. Driving the second tool to form part of the undercut further away from the joint plane VP than the locking face 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 joint plane VP. The lower lip 40 can also be formed to extend to the joint plane VP. Alternatively, the lower lip 40 may be formed to end at a distance from the joint 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. Furthermore, since the tools can engage the floorboards depending 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 bottom of the tongue grove 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.

Moreover, the first tool can be configured to machine a wider surface portion of the joint edge portion 4a of the floorboard than the second tool. The second tool can be formed such that the surface facing the surface plane HP becomes a profile with a reduced thickness of the tool in the radial outside of the tool when viewed in parallel with the rotating shaft. Moreover, three or more tools can be configured with different settings of these rotary shafts to form the undercut portion of the tongue grove. The tool can be used to process wood or wood fiber based materials.

39 shows how a joint 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 joint is not flexible, the joint edges 41 and 61 may break or the locking element 8 may break. This problem can be solved by configuring the joint system to achieve the following properties individually and in combination to reduce this problem.

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

If the contact surface between the locking surfaces 45 and 65 is small, the joint system can be formed so that the locking surface can be compressed more easily than the upper joint edges 41 and 61. The locking element 8 may be formed with a grove 64a between the locking face and the upper horizontal support face 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 grove and act as an elastic element in connection with the expansion and contraction of the surface layer. Can be.

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

40 shows a joint 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 grove. If this contact surface is small and the contact takes place without very large compression, the joint system can be displaced in the locking position.

41 shows a joint system in which the lower support surfaces 50, 71 have two angles. A portion of the support surface outside the joint plane is parallel to the horizontal plane. Inside the joint plane closest to the interior of the tongue grove, the support surfaces have an angle corresponding to the tangent to the arc 32 which tangents to the innermost edges of the support surface portions joining each other. The locking face 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 joint system therefore does not have an upper support surface besides the locking surface which also prevents vertical separation.

42A and 42B show a joint system that is convenient for locking the short side and can have high tensile strength with a softer material because the locking element 8 has a large horizontal shear-absorbing surface. Tongue 38 is positioned outside arc C2 and therefore has a lower portion that does not comply with the above-described basic principles of inwardly angling. As can be seen from FIG. 42B, the joint system is still around the upper joint edge since the locking element 8 of the tongue 38 can be disengaged from the tongue grove by pulling it horizontally after the first upward angling operation is executed. It can be dismantled by angle upward. Therefore, the previously described principle for inward and upward angled around the upper joint edge is that the joint system may be pulled or combined with snapping out in some other way, for example when the lower lip 40 is bent. It must be satisfied that it can be angled upward until it can be disassembled 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 joint 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 snapping in, therefore essentially bending will occur in 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 inserted into the tongue grove 36 so that the round guiding portions come into contact with each other. do. If the tongue 38 is inserted further, the lower lip 40 will terminate snapping in and bend backward until the locking element 8 is fully inserted into the final position in the locking grove 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 engagement 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 large friction in connection with the snapping in and the risk of damage to the joint. 43C shows that the maximum bending can be limited by designing the tongue grove 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 in is usually used in combination with locking of the long side and then snapping in on the short side. By snapping to the long side, it is also possible to snap the joint system according to the invention with one board to a slightly upward angling position. This upward angled position is shown in FIG. 44. Since only a small bend B3 of the lower lip 40 is required for the guiding portion 66 of the locking element to contact the guiding portion 44 of the locking grove, the locking element is directed downwardly to the locking grove 35. You can do it by inserting it.

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 tip of the tongue. During snapping in, the lower lip 40 is bent downward and the outer bottom of the tongue 38 is bent upward.

46a and 46b show a locking system according to the invention with a split tongue. While 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 joint systems are designed to angle inward and outward respectively for locking and disassembly.

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

48A and 48B show the snap-in of a combination joint with a lower lip that makes up two parts, where only the individual lip forms a support surface. Such a joint system can be used, for example, on one side with some other joint system according to the invention. The advantage of this joint system is that, for example, the locking grove 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 joint system can adjoin the thinnest core material. The core material may, for example, be a thin compact layer, the upper and lower layers may for example be a fairly thick layer of coke or soft plastic material, and the thick layer may impart a soft and firm absorbent floor. Using this technique, core materials having a thickness of about 2 mm can be combined as 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 joints can also be used in thicker materials.

Figures 49 and 50 show two variations of the combination system that can be used, for example in a single side, in combination with other preferred systems. The combination joint 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. FIG. 50 shows that this combination joint may be formed of a locking element 8b in the outer lip 40b which is positioned inside the joint plane.

51A-51F illustrate a laying method in accordance with the present invention and which may be used to join floorboards by a combination of horizontal joining, upward angling, upwardly angular position and downward angling. This laying method can be used for floorboards according to the invention, but can also be used for mechanical joint systems optionally in floors having this property to which the laying method can be applied. In order to simplify the description, the laying method is shown by combining one plate referred to as a grove plate and another plate referred to as a tongue plate. The plates are actually the same. Obviously the entire laying process can also be carried out by combining the tongue side with the groove side in the same way.

The tongue plate 4a with the tongue 38 and the grove plate 4b with the tongue groves 36 lie flat on the western leaf and in accordance with FIG. 51A in the initial position. Tongue 38 and tongue grove 36 have locking means to prevent vertical and horizontal separation. Thus, the grove plate 4b holds the tongue plate 4a until the tongue 38 is in contact with the tongue grove 36 and the upper and lower portions of the tongue are partially inserted into the tongue grove according to FIG. 51B. It is displaced horizontally in the direction F1. This first operation forces the joint edge portion 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 grove plate is moved towards the tongue, the joint edge of the grove plate will rise slightly in this position. The grove plate 4b is then angled upward in angular motion S1 and at the same time kept in contact with the tongue or alternatively pressed in the direction F1 towards the tongue 4a according to FIG. 51C. do. When the grove plate 4b reaches the angle SA with respect to the subfloor corresponding to the upward angling snap position as described above and as shown in Fig. 44, the grove plate 4b is a tongue plate. The upper joint edges 41, 61 are brought into contact with each other since they can be moved toward 4a and the locking means of the tongue are partially inserted into the locking means of the tongue grove by the snap function.

This snap function in the upward angling position is characterized by widening and spring back the outside of the tongue grove. The widening force is essentially smaller than necessary in connection with the snapping in in the horizontal position. The snap angle SA depends on the force that connects the plates with the upward angling of the grove 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 small. The snapping in position is also characterized in that the guiding portions of the locking means are in contact with each other so that they can perform the snapping in function. If the plate is banana shaped, the plate will be straight and locked in connection with the snapping in. Now the grove plate 4b can be angled downward according to FIG. 51E and locked against the tongue plate in the final position, in combination with the angular motion S2 pressing towards the joint edge. This is shown in FIG. 51F.

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

The floorboards can be installed without any substantial aids, depending on the preferred laying 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 bottom 81 which angles the grove plate upward when inserted under the edge of the floorboard. It has an upper adjacent edge 82 in contact with the edge portion of the groove plate in the upward angling position. Since the striking block 80 is inserted under the grove plate, when the adjacent edge 82 comes into contact with the floorboard, the grove plate will have a predetermined snap angle. The grove 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 auxiliary device is used to angle the plate up to an angle that snaps up and the other auxiliary device is used to press together. The same method can be used if the substitute aid is angled up the grove side of the new plate and engaged with the tongue side of the previously placed plate.

Another aspect of the tool for laying floorboards will now be described. Such a tool for laying the floorboard by interconnecting the tongue and the grove joint may be designed as a block 80 with a mating surface 82 for joining the joint edges 4a, 4b of the joint edge portion of the floorboard. The tool can be formed as a wedge for inserting under the floorboard. Engagement surfaces 82 of the wedges are arranged close to the thick ends of the wedges. The engagement surface 82 of the tool may be concave curved to at least partially surround the joint edges 4a, 4b of the floorboard. Moreover, the position of the wedge angle S1 of the wedge and the engagement surface 82 on the thick portion of the wedge is determined by the floorboard's predecessor when the floorboard is raised with the wedge 80 and the joint edge of the floorboard contacts the engagement surface 82. It can be adjusted to obtain an elevation angle. Adjacent surfaces 82 of the wedges 80 may be formed to oppose the joint edge portion 4b, which joint edge portion is formed with the undercut tongue groove 36 formed at the opposing joint edge portion 4a of the floorboard. It has a tongue 38 facing obliquely upward to engage the tongue 38 of the laid floorboard. Alternatively, the adjoining surface 82 of the wedge may be formed so as to be opposed to the joint edge portion 4a, with the joint edge portion facing upward obliquely and formed in the opposite joint edge portion 4b of the floorboard 38 ) Has an undercut grove 36 for engaging.

The tool described above can be used to mechanically join floorboards by ascending one floorboard against another and to engage and lock the floorboard's mechanical locking system. The tool can also be used to mechanically join one floorboard with another floorboard by snapping together the floorboard's mechanical locking system when the floorboard is in an elevated state. Moreover, the tool may be formed such that the mating surface 82 of the wedge is adjacent to the joint edge portion 4b, with the undercut tongue groove 36 formed at the opposing joint edge portion 4a of the floorboard. It can be used to have the tongue 38 facing obliquely upward to engage the tongue 38 of the previously laid floorboard. Alternatively, the tool may be formed such that the adjacent surface 82 of the wedge is adjacent to the joint edge portion 4a, with the joint edge portion facing upwardly obliquely and formed at the opposite joint edge portion 4b of the floorboard. It can be used to have an undercut grove 36 for engaging 38.

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

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

Furthermore, Figs. 53, 54A and 54B describe a problem that may arise from connection with the snapping in of the two short sides of the two plates 2a, 2b already joined with the other first plate 1 on the long side. . When the floorboard 2a is snapped to 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 two plates 2a and 2b on each of these long sides are joined to the same floorboard 1. According to FIG. 54B, which shows sections C 3 -C 4, the tongue 38 cannot be inserted into the tongue grove 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 grove 36, thereby locking the plate 2b to the locking element 8. The lower lip 40 begins to bend downward by automatically angling up in response to the height.

Therefore, the inventors have found that there may be a problem connecting with the snapping in of the inner corner part in the lateral displacement in the same plane, and these problems may greatly hinder the snapping in and cause a risk of cracking of the joint system. . This problem can be solved by proper joint design and the selection of materials that are capable of bending deformation of the material in multiple joint portions.

When snapping in this specially designed joint system, it occurs as follows. In the lateral displacement, the upper lip and the outer guiding portions 42, 68 of the tongue cooperate to force the locking element 8 of the tongue under 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 of 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 joint system must be configured such that the sum of these four displacements is so large that the locking element slides along the upper lip and snaps into the locking grove. It is known that the tongue grove 36 can be widened in connection with the snapping in. However, it is not known to be advantageous if the tongue, which should normally be rigid, is also designed to bend in conjunction with the snapping in. This embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 55. Something like a grove 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 joint system are bent in conjunction with the snapping 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 position when the edges of the plates come into contact with each other. The joint system is constructed in such a way that even the outermost tip of the tongue 38 is located outside the inner side 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 angled upwards. 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 snapping in position. Therefore, when the tongue and the grove come into contact with each other as the plate lies in the same plane, in conjunction with the snapping in, which 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, snapping in can be very easy.

Some variations may be within the scope of the present invention. The inventors have made a large number of variations where different parts of the joint system are made of different widths, lengths, thicknesses, angles and radii of many different sheet materials and uniform plastic and wood panels. It has been evaluated. All joint systems are also known in the prior art system and in various combinations of the systems described here, in the snapping and angling of the grooves and tongues with respect to each other and in the changed positions of the upper and lower sides, and in the long and short sides. Has been tested. The locking system is provided where the locking face is also an upper engagement surface, when the tongue and the grove have a plurality of locking elements and locking groves, and also the lower and lower lips of the tongue in the form of the locking element and the locking grove. It is produced when formed by horizontal locking means.

Claims (132)

In a locking system for mechanically joining the floorboards 1, 1 ′ in the joint plane VP, the floorboards 1, 1 ′ have a core 30, front side 2, 32, rear side 34. And opposing joint edge portions 4a, 4b, one of which is formed as a tongue grove 36 formed by upper and lower lips 39, 40 and having a bottom end 48. Another joint edge portion 4b is formed as a tongue 38 having an upward portion 8 at its free outer end, Viewed from the joint plane VP, the tongue grove 36 has the shape of an undercut grove 36 having an opening, an interior 35 and an internal locking surface 45, At least a portion of the lower lip 40 is integrally formed with the core 30 of the floorboard, The tongue 38 cooperates with the inner locking surface 45 in the tongue grove 36 when the two floorboards 1, 1 ′ are mechanically coupled, so that the front sides 4a, 4b of the floorboard In the locking system having a locking face 65 located in the same surface plane HP and formed to meet at the joint plane VP perpendicular to it. At least a major portion of the bottom end 48 of the tongue groove, when viewed parallel to the surface plane HP, is located farther from the joint plane VP than at the outer end 69 of the tongue 38. That is, The inner locking face 45 of the tongue grove 36 rests on the upper lip 39 in the undercut portion 35 of the tongue grove to cooperate with the corresponding locking face 65 of the tongue. The corresponding locking face is formed on the upper portion 8 of the tongue 38 to prevent the two mechanically coupled plates from falling out in a direction D2 perpendicular to the joint 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 36 of the undercut grove, the support surface Cooperating to prevent the relative displacement of the two mechanically coupled plates in a direction D1 perpendicular to the surface plane HP, From the point C at which the surface plane HP and the joint plane VP intersect, all parts of the lower lip 40 which are connected to the core are inclined with respect to the surface plane HP mostly. Outside the plane LP2, which is parallel to the locking plane LP1 tangential to the tongue groove 36 and the cooperative locking surfaces 45, 65 of the tongue 38, and located further from the point. Is located, The upper lip 39, the lower lip 40 and the tongue 38 of the joint edge portions 4a, 4b are the tongue of the floor plate 1 and the tongue 38 of the other floorboard 1 ′. To disassemble the grove 36, two mechanically joined surfaces are pivoted upwardly relative to the other floorboard around a pivot center C near the intersection on the surface plane HP and the joint plane VP. Locking system characterized in that it is designed to disassemble the floorboard. 2. The tongue of one floorboard according to claim 1, wherein the upper lip (39), the lower lip (40) and the tongue (38) of the joint edge portions (4a, 4b) are one tongue of one floorboard if the two floorboards are essentially in contact with each other. Two floorboards by pivoting one floorboard downward relative to another floorboard around a pivot center (C) close to the intersection on the surface plane (HP) and the joint plane (VP) to join the tongue groves of the floorboard with the other floorboard. Locking system, characterized in that it is designed to engage (1, 1 '). 3. The floorboards 1, 1 ′ according to claim 1, wherein the undercut grove 36 and the tongue 38 are mechanically coupled to a similar plate in a direction along the joint plane VP. D3) locking system, characterized in that it has a design displaceable. 4. The joint edge of the plate according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the tongue 38 and the undercut grove 36 are close to the intersection on the surface plane HP and the joint plane VP. A locking system, characterized in that it is designed to connect and disassemble one plate with another by pivoting one plate with respect to the other while maintaining contact between the plates at the point of injury (C). The surface of claim 1, wherein the tongue 38 and the undercut grove 36 are in contact with the surface without essential contact between the side face of the tongue 38 and the lower lip facing away from the surface plane HP. The plates can be connected and disassembled by pivoting one plate with respect to the other while maintaining contact between the plates at points on the joint edge of the plate near the intersection on the plane HP and the joint plane VP. Locking system characterized in that it is designed to. 5. The tongue 38 according to claim 1, wherein the tongue 38 and the undercut grove 36 face away from the surface plane HP and face the surface plane HP. 6. On the joint edge portion of the plate close to the intersection on the surface plane HP and the joint plane VP, with intrinsic line contact between the sides of the and the upper lip 39 and the lower lip 40, respectively. A locking system, characterized in that it is designed to connect and disassemble the plates (1, 1 ') by pivoting one plate with respect to the other while maintaining contact between the plates at this point. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, between the locking plane LP2 and a 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 side. The distance of the locking system, characterized in that more than 10% of the thickness (T) of the floorboard. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the locking face (45, 65) of the upper lip (39) and the tongue (38) forms an angle with respect to the surface plane (HP) below 90 ° but above 20 °. A locking system characterized by the above. 9. Locking system according to claim 8, characterized in that the upper lip (39) and the locking face (45, 65) of the tongue (38) form an angle with respect to the surface plane (HP) of at least 30 degrees. The undercut grove 36 and the tongue 38 are coupled to each other of the upper lip 39 and the tongue 38 by the outer end 69 of the tongue 38. At a distance from the undercut grove 36 along essentially the entire distance from the locking faces 45, 65 to the cooperating support surfaces 50, 71 of the lower lip 40 and the tongue 38. Locking system, characterized in that it is designed to be positioned. The surface portion contacting between the outer end 69 of the tongue 38 and the undercut grove 36 is the locking when two such plates 1, 1 ′ are mechanically engaged. Locking system, characterized in that less in the vertical plane than in the face (45, 65). The edge part 4a, 4b according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the edge portions 4a, 4b with tongue 38 and tongue grooves 36 are measured from the upper side to the lower side of the floorboard when the two floorboards are joined, Locking system, characterized in that there is a surface contact between the edge portions (4a, 4b) at most 30% of the edge surface of the edge portion (4b) supporting the tongue. The cooperative support surfaces 50, 71 of the tongue 38 and the lower lip 40 are constant in parallel with the surface plane HP or less than or equal to the tangent to the arc. Oriented at an angle, the arc being tangent to the support surfaces engaging with each other at a point closest to the bottom 48 of the undercut grove and viewed in cross section, the surface plane HP and the joint plane ( Locking system, characterized in that the center is at the point (C) that VP) intersects. The method of claim 13, characterized in that the cooperating support surfaces 50, 71 of the tongue 38 and the lower lip 40 are set at an angle of 0 ° to 30 ° to the surface plane HP. Locking system. 15. The locking system according to claim 14, wherein the cooperating support surfaces (50, 71) of the tongue (38) and the lower lip (40) are set at an angle of at least 10 degrees to the surface plane (HP). . The cooperative support surfaces 50, 71 of the tongue 38 and the lower lip 40 are set at an angle of at most 20 ° to the surface plane HP. Locking system, characterized in that. 14. 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) that is essentially the same as the tangent to the arc. And the arc is tangent to the support surfaces 50, 71 and the cross section is centered at the point where the surface plane HP and the joint plane VP intersect. . 14. The cooperating support surfaces 50, 71 of the tongue 38 and the lower lip 40 are set at an angle greater with respect to the surface plane HP than the tangent to the arc, The circular arc is tangent to the mating surfaces engaging with each other at the point closest to the bottom of the undercut grove, and has a center at the point where the surface plane HP and the joint plane VP intersect. system. The cooperative support surfaces 50, 71 of the tongue 38 and the lower lip 40 are designed to cooperate, and the upper lip 39 and the tongue 38. Locking angle in relation to the surface plane (HP) than in the cooperative locking face. 20. The device of claim 19, 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 upper lip (39) and the tongue (38) Locking system, characterized in that it is set at a smaller angle relative to the surface plane (HP) than at the cooperative locking surface (50, 71). 21. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 20, wherein the support surfaces 50, 71 form an angle that is at least 20 degrees relative to the surface plane HP than at the locking surfaces 45, 65. Locking system, characterized in that. The portion of the locking face 45 of the upper lip 39 is located closer to the bottom 48 of the tongue grove than to the portion of the support face 50, 71. Locking system characterized in that. The top lip 39 and the locking faces 45, 65 of the tongue 38 are essentially planar in at least a surface portion intended to cooperate with each other when two such plates are joined. Locking system, characterized in that. 24. The tongue (38) according to claim 23, wherein the tongue (38), when viewed from the joint plane (VP), is located outside the locking face of the tongue (38) and has a smaller angle to the surface plane than that at the locking face. And a guiding surface having a locking system. The upper lip 39 is located closer to the opening of the tongue grove 36 than at the locking face 45 of the upper lip, and the locking face of the upper lip (10). 45) Locking system, characterized in that it has a guiding surface (42) with a smaller angle to the surface plane (HP) than it does at 45). Locking system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lower lip (40) extends or preferably ends at a distance from the joint plane (VP). The lower lip 40 is shorter than the upper lip 39 and ends at a distance from the joint plane VP, and the lower lip 40 and the tongue 38 At least a portion of the support surfaces 50, 71 is located at a greater distance from the joint plane VP than at the inclined locking surfaces 45, 65 of the upper lip 39 and the tongue 38. Locking system, characterized in that. The locking surface 65 of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the locking face 65 of the tongue 38 is at a distance of at least 0.1 times the thickness T of the floorboards 1, 1 ′ from the tip 69 of the tongue 38. Locking system, characterized in that arranged. The vertical dimension of the cooperative locking surfaces 45 and 65 is less than half of the vertical dimension of the undercut 35 when viewed parallel to the surface plane HP from the joint plane VP. Locking system characterized by a small. 8. Locking system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the locking face (45, 65) has a size of at most 10% of the thickness (T) of the floorboard when the floorboard is viewed in vertical section. The locking system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the length of the tongue (38) is at least 0.3 times the thickness (T) of the floorboard when viewed vertically away from the joint plane (VP). The joint edge portion 4b for supporting the tongue and / or the joint edge portion 4a for supporting the tongue grove is positioned above the tongue and the surface plane HP. And a recess (63) ending at a distance from the locking system. 8. The tongue lip (39) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the upper lip (39) and the tongue (38) have contact surfaces (43, 64) that cooperate with each other in a locked state, and the contact surface (38) cooperate with each other in a locked state And in the region between the locking face (45, 65) and the joint plane (VP) of the upper lip (39). 34. The locking system according to claim 33, wherein the contact surface (43, 64) is essentially planar. 35. The locking system according to claim 33 or 34, wherein the contact surface (43, 64) is inclined upward in the surface plane (HP) in the direction towards the joint plane (VP). 35. The locking system according to claim 33 or 34, wherein the contact surface (43, 64) is essentially parallel to the surface plane (HP). Locking system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lower lip (40) of the tongue grove (36) is flexible. The locking system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is formed as a snap lock which is openable by angled one plate (1 ') with respect to the other plate (1). The floorboard according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the floorboard previously laid down by pushing together motion essentially parallel to the surface plane HP of the previously laid plate for snapping together a portion of the locking system. Locking system, characterized in that it is formed to join a new floorboard. 8. Locking system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the undercut grove (36) has an external opening that tapers inwardly in the shape of a funnel when viewed in cross section. 41. The locking system according to claim 40, wherein the upper lip (39) has a bevel (42) at an outer edge that is far from the surface plane (HP). Locking system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tongue has a tip (69) tapering in cross section. Locking system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tongue (38) has a split tip having an upper tongue (38a) and a lower tongue (38b) in cross section. 44. The locking system according to claim 43, wherein the upper tongue portion (38a) and the lower tongue portion (38b) of the tongue (38) are made of different materials with different material properties. The locking system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tongue grove and the tongue are integrally formed with the floorboard (1, 1 '). The locking face (45, 65) of claim 1, wherein the locking faces (45, 65) are set at an angle greater than the tangent to the arc relative to the surface plane (HP), the arc being at the bottom (48) of the undercut grove. And a tangent to the locking face (45, 65) which is joined to each other at the nearest point and centered at the point where the surface plane (HP) and the joint plane (VP) intersect. Locking system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the upper lip (39) is thicker than the lower lip (40). Locking system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the minimum thickness of the upper lip (39) adjacent the undercut (35) is greater than the maximum thickness of the lower lip (40) adjacent the support surface (50). . Locking system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the size of the support surface (50, 71) is at most 15% of the thickness (T) of the floorboard. The vertical dimension between the upper lip 39 and the lower lip 40 according to any one of the preceding claims, measured parallel to the joint plane VP and measured at the outer end of the support surface 43. Locking system, characterized in that more than 30% of the thickness (T). The locking system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the depth of the tongue grove (36) is 2% greater than the corresponding size of the tongue (38), measured from the joint plane (VP). Locking system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tongue (38) has a different material property than the upper lip (39) and the lower lip (40). Locking system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the upper lip (39) is more rigid than the lower lip (40). Locking system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the upper lip (39) and the lower lip (40) are made of a material having different properties. The system of claim 1, wherein the locking system also includes a second mechanical lock, the second mechanical lock: A locking grove 14 formed on the lower surface of the joint edge portion 4b supporting the tongue 38 and extending in parallel with the joint plane VP, Having a locking component 6 integrally attached to the joint edge portion 4a of the plate under the tongue grove 36 and extending essentially along the entire length of the joint edge portion and protruding from the strip, Locking system, characterized in that it comprises a locking strip housed in the locking grove (14) of the adjacent plate (1 ') when these plates are mechanically engaged. 56. The locking system according to claim 55, wherein the locking strip (6) projects beyond the joint plane. The locking system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the locking system is formed in a plate having a core made of wood fiber material. 53. The locking system according to claim 52, wherein the locking system is formed in a plate having a wood core. It has a core 30, a front side 2, a rear side 34 and opposing joint edge portions 4a, 4b formed as part of a mechanical locking system, one of which is the upper and lower ribs 39, 40. Is formed as a tongue grove 36 having a bottom end 48 and the other is formed as a tongue 38 having an upstream portion 8 at the free outer end 69, Viewed in the joint plane VP, the tongue grove 36 has an undercut grove shape with an opening, an interior 35 and an internal locking surface 45, At least a portion of the lower lip 40 is integrally formed with the core 30 of the floorboard, The tongue 38 cooperates with the inner locking face 45 in the tongue grove 36 when these two floorboards are mechanically coupled, so that the front sides 4a, 4b of the floorboard are of the same surface plane ( In a floorboard having a locking face (65) positioned in the joint plane (VP) located within and perpendicular to the HP) At least a major portion of the bottom end 48 of the tongue groove, when viewed parallel to the surface plane HP, is located farther from the joint plane VP than at the outer end 69 of the tongue 38. That is, The inner locking face 45 of the tongue grove 36 rests on the upper lip 39 in the undercut portion 35 of the tongue grove to cooperate with the corresponding locking face 65 of the tongue. And a corresponding locking face 65 is formed on the upper portion 8 of the tongue 38 to prevent the two mechanically coupled plates from falling out in a direction D2 perpendicular to the joint plane VP. That is, 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 36 of the undercut grove, the support surface The fields 50, 71 are adapted to obstruct the relative displacement of the two mechanically coupled plates in a direction D1 perpendicular to the surface plane HP, In view of the intersection of the surface plane HP and the joint plane VP, all the parts of the lower lip 40 which are connected to the core are mostly tongue inclined with respect to the surface plane HP. Located outside the plane LP2 parallel to the locking plane LP1 tangent to the cooper 36 and cooperative locking surfaces 45, 65 of the lobe 36 and further away from the point. And The upper lip 39, the lower lip 40 and the tongue 38 of the joint edge portions 4a and 4b decompose the tongue 38 of one floorboard and the tongue grove 36 of the other floorboard. Two mechanically coupled 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 joint plane VP for Floorboard, characterized in that designed to be disassembled. 60. The tongue lip according to claim 59, wherein the upper lip 39, the lower lip 40 and the tongue 38 of the joint edge portion are provided with the tongue of one floorboard and the tongue of another floorboard if two floorboards are in contact with each other. Designed to join 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 joint plane VP to join the grove. Floorboard characterized in that. 61. The design of claim 59 or 60, wherein the undercut grove 36 and the tongue 38 are displaceable in a direction D3 along the joint plane VP, in which a floorboard that is mechanically coupled to a similar plate is displaced. Floorboard characterized by having a. 63. The joint edge portion of the plate according to any one of claims 59 to 61, wherein the tongue 38 and the undercut grove 36 are close to the intersection of the surface plane HP and the joint plane VP. The floorboard is designed to connect and disassemble one plate with another by pivoting one plate with respect to the other plate while maintaining contact between the plates at the point (C). 63. The method of any of claims 59 to 62, wherein the tongue 38 and the undercut grove 36 are between the side of the tongue 38 and the lower lip facing away from the surface plane HP. The plates are pivoted by pivoting one plate relative to the other while maintaining contact between the plates at points on the joint edge of the plate near the intersection on the surface plane HP and the joint plane VP without intimate contact. Floorboards designed to be connected and disassembled. 63. The tongue 38 according to any one of claims 59 to 62, wherein the tongue 38 and the undercut grove 36 face away from the surface plane HP and face the surface plane HP. On the joint edge portion of the plate close to the intersection on the surface plane HP and the joint plane VP, with intrinsic line contact between the sides of the and the upper lip 39 and the lower lip 40, respectively. A floorboard designed to connect and disassemble the plates by pivoting one plate relative to another while maintaining contact between the plates at this point. 65. The device according to any one of claims 59 to 64, wherein all parts of the portion of the lower lip 40, parallel to the locking plane LP2 and connected to the core 30, are located on the outer surface And the distance between the flat surfaces LP1 is at least 10% of the thickness T of the floorboard. 66. A method according to any one of claims 59 to 65, wherein the locking face of the upper lip 39 and the tongue 38 forms an angle with respect to the surface plane HP of less than 90 degrees but greater than 20 degrees. Floorboard featured. 67. The floorboard of claim 66, wherein the upper lip (39) and the locking face of the tongue (38) form an angle with respect to the surface plane (HP) of at least 30 degrees. 68. The undercut grove 36 and the tongue 38 of claim 59, wherein the outer end 69 of the tongue is formed of the upper lip 39 and the tongue 38. Constant from the undercut grove 36 along an essentially total distance from the locking faces 45, 65 to each other to the cooperative support surfaces 50, 71 of the lower lip 40 and the tongue 38. Floorboards designed to be located on the street. 69. The surface of claim 68 wherein the surface contacting between the outer end 69 of the tongue 38 and the undercut grove 36 locks when two such plates 1, 1 'are mechanically engaged. Floorboard, characterized in that it is less in the vertical plane than in the planes (45, 65). 70. The device according to any one of claims 59 to 69, wherein the edge portion with tongue 38 and tongue grooves 36, measured from the upper side to the lower side of the floorboard when the two floorboards are joined. Floorboard, characterized in that there is a surface contact between the edge portions (4a, 4b) at most 30% of the edge surface of the edge portion (4b) supporting the tongue. 72. The apparatus of any of claims 59 to 71, wherein the cooperative support surfaces 50, 71 of the tongue 38 and the lower lip 40 are parallel to the surface plane HP or tangential to an arc. Oriented at equal or lesser angles, the arc being tangent to the support surfaces joining each other at a point closest to the bottom 48 of the undercut grove and viewed in cross section, the surface plane HP And a center at a point C at which the joint plane VP intersects. 72. The apparatus of any one of claims 59 to 71, wherein the cooperating support surfaces (50, 71) of the tongue (38) and the lower lip (40) are at an angle of 0 to 30 degrees to the surface plane HP. Floorboard, characterized in that set to. 73. The floorboard according to claim 72, wherein the cooperative support surfaces (50, 71) of the tongue (38) and the lower lip (40) are set at an angle of at least 10 degrees to the surface plane (HP). 80. The apparatus of claim 72 or 73, wherein the cooperative support surfaces 50, 71 of the tongue 38 and the lower lip 40 are set at an angle of at most 20 ° to the surface plane HP. Floorboard characterized in that. 72. 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 to the surface plane HP that is essentially the same tangent to the arc. And the arc is tangent to the support surface (50, 71) and has a center at the point where the surface plane (HP) and the joint plane (VP) intersect when the plate is viewed in cross section. 72. 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 circular arc is tangent to the mating surfaces engaging with each other at a point closest to the bottom of the undercut grove, and has a center at the point where the surface plane HP and the joint plane VP intersect. . 78. The method according to any one of claims 59 to 76, wherein the cooperating support surfaces (50, 71) of the tongue (38) and the lower lip (40) are designed to cooperate, and the upper lip (39) And at a smaller angle with respect to the surface plane (HP) than at the cooperative locking surfaces (45, 65) of the tongue (38). 78. The apparatus of claim 77, wherein the support surface of the tongue 38 and the lower lip 40 are designed to cooperate and incline in the same direction but the upper lip 39 and the tongue 38 Floorboards, characterized in that they are set at a smaller angle relative to the surface plane (HP) than in the cooperative locking surfaces (45, 65). 79. The apparatus of any one of claims 71-78, wherein the support surfaces (50, 71) form an angle of at least 20 [deg.] With respect to the surface plane (HP) than that at the locking surfaces (45, 65). Floorboard characterized in that. 80. A method according to any one of claims 59 to 79, wherein the upper lip extends to the joint plane VP and at least a portion of the inclined locking face 45 of the upper lip 39 is formed of the lower lip. Floorboard, characterized in that it is located farther from the joint plane (VP) than on the support surface (50). 81. The apparatus of any one of claims 59 to 80, wherein the upper lip 39 and the locking faces 45, 65 of the tongue 38 are at least in a surface portion adapted to cooperate with each other when two such plates are joined. Floorboard, characterized in that it is essentially flat. 90. The device of claim 81, wherein the tongue 38, when viewed in the joint plane VP, is located outside the locking face of the tongue 38 and is smaller in angle to the surface plane than in the locking face. Floorboard, characterized in that it has a guiding surface (68). 83. The lower lip 40 according to any of claims 59 to 82, wherein the lower lip 40 is located closer to the opening of the tongue grove 36 than at the support surface of the lower lip 40. Floorboard, characterized in that it has a guiding surface (51) having a smaller angle with respect to the surface plane (HP) than at the support surface of (40). 84. The floorboard of any one of claims 59-83, wherein the lower lip (40) extends or preferably ends at a distance from the joint plane (VP). The lower lip 40 according to claim 59, wherein the lower lip 40 is shorter than the upper lip 39 and ends at a distance from the joint plane VP. At least a portion of the support surfaces 50, 71 of 38 are further from the joint plane VP than at the upper lip 39 and the inclined locking surfaces 45, 65 of the tongue 38. Floorboard, characterized in that located on the street. 86. The locking face 65 of any one of claims 59-85, wherein the locking face 65 of the tongue 38 is disposed at a distance of at least 0.1 times the thickness T of the floorboard, as viewed from the tip of the tongue 38. Floorboard characterized in that there is. 87. The method of any one of claims 59 to 86, wherein the locking face 65 of the tongue 38 is at least 0.1 times the thickness T of the floorboard from the tip 69 of the tongue 38. Floorboards are arranged. 88. The method according to any one of claims 59 to 87, wherein the vertical dimensions of the locking surfaces 45, 65 are half of the vertical dimensions of the undercut 35 when viewed parallel to the surface plane from the joint plane VP. Floorboards characterized by being smaller. 89. The apparatus according to any one of claims 59 to 88, wherein when the floorboard is viewed in vertical section, the locking surfaces 45, 65 have a size of at most 10% of the thickness T of the floorboard. Floorboard. 90. The floorboard as claimed in any one of claims 59 to 89, wherein the length of the tongue (38) is at least 0.3 times the thickness (T) of the floorboard when viewed vertically away from the joint plane (VP). 91. The joint edge portion 4b according to any of claims 59 to 90, wherein the joint edge portion 4b supporting the tongue and / or the joint edge portion 4a supporting the tongue grove is positioned on the tongue and the A floorboard having recesses (63, 63a) ending at a distance from the surface plane (HP). 94. The apparatus of any of claims 59-91, wherein the upper lip 39 and the tongue 38 have contact surfaces 43, 64 that cooperate with each other in a locked state, wherein the contact surfaces cooperate with each other in a locked state. Floorboard, characterized in that located in the region between the locking face (45, 65) of the tongue (38) and the upper lip (39) and the joint plane (VP). 93. The floorboard of claim 92, wherein the contact surface (43, 64) is essentially planar. 95. The floorboard as claimed in claim 92 or 93, wherein the contact surface (43, 64) is inclined upward in the surface plane (HP) in a direction toward the joint plane (VP). 95. The floorboard as claimed in claim 92 or 93, wherein the contact surface (43, 64) is essentially parallel to the surface plane (HP). 98. The floorboard of any of claims 59-95, wherein the lower lip (40) of the tongue grove is flexible. 98. Floorboard according to any one of claims 59 to 96, characterized in that it is formed as a snap lock openable by angled one plate (1 ') with respect to the other plate (1). 98. The new floorboard according to any one of claims 59 to 97, wherein the previously installed floorboard and the new floorboard are joined by a pushing together motion essentially parallel to the surface plane of the previously laid plate for snapping together portions of the floorboard. The floorboard which is formed in order to do it. 99. A floorboard as claimed in any one of claims 59 to 98, wherein the undercut grove (36) has an outer opening that tapers inwardly in the shape of a funnel when viewed in cross section. 100. The floorboard of claim 99, wherein the upper lip (39) has a bevel (42) at an outer edge that is far from the surface plane (HP). 101. The floorboard as claimed in any one of claims 59 to 100, wherein the tongue (38) has a tip (69) tapering in cross section. 101. The floorboard as claimed in any one of claims 59 to 101, wherein the tongue has a split tip having an upper tongue portion (38a) and a lower tongue portion (38b) in cross section. 103. The floorboard of claim 102, wherein the upper tongue (38a) and the lower tongue (38b) of the tongue (38) are made of different materials having different material properties. 103. The floor board according to any one of claims 59 to 103, wherein the tongue groove (36) and the tongue (38) are integrally formed with the floor board (1, 1 '). 105. The locking face according to any one of claims 59 to 104, wherein the locking face is set at an angle greater than the tangent to the arc relative to the surface plane HP, the arc being at the bottom 48 of the undercut grove. And a tangent to the locking surface (45, 65) centered at the point where the surface plane (HP) and the joint plane (VP) intersect with each other at the nearest point. 107. The floorboard of any of claims 59-105, wherein the upper lip (39) is thicker than the lower lip (40). 107. The method according to any one of claims 59 to 106, characterized in that 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. 108. The floorboard as claimed in any one of claims 59 to 107, wherein the size of the support surface (50, 71) is at most 15% of the thickness (T) of the floorboard. 109. The method according to any one of claims 59 to 108, between the upper lip 39 and the lower lip 40, parallel to the joint plane VP and measured at the outer end of the support surface 43. The vertical size is a floorboard, characterized in that more than 30% of the thickness (T) of the floorboard. 109. The method of any one of claims 59 to 109, wherein the depth of the tongue groves 36 is 2% greater than the corresponding size of the tongues 38, measured from the joint plane VP. Floorboard. 119. The floorboard of any of claims 59-110, wherein the tongue (38) has a different material property than the upper lip (39) and the lower lip (40). 119. The floorboard of any one of claims 59-111, wherein the upper lip (39) is more rigid than the lower lip (40). 118. The floorboard of any of claims 59-112, wherein the upper lip and the lower lip are made of a material having different properties. 115. The system of any of claims 59-113, wherein the floorboard also comprises a second mechanical lock, wherein the second mechanical lock is A locking grove 14 formed on the lower surface of the joint edge portion 4b supporting the tongue 38 and extending in parallel with the joint plane VP, Having a locking component 6 integrally attached to the joint edge portion 4a of the plate under the tongue grove 36 and extending essentially along the entire length of the joint edge portion and protruding from the strip, Floorboard, characterized in that it comprises a locking strip which is received in the locking grove (14) of the adjacent plate (1) when these plates are mechanically engaged. 118. The floorboard of claim 114, wherein the locking strip (6) protrudes beyond the joint plane (VP). 116. The floor board according to any one of claims 59 to 115, which is formed in a plate having a core (3) of wood fiber-based material. 118. The floorboard according to claim 116, characterized in that it is formed in a plate with a wooden core (3). 118. The floorboard of any one of claims 59-117, wherein the floorboard is quadrilateral and has paired parallel sides. 118. The floorboard of claim 118, wherein the floorboard has a mechanical locking system at all four side edges. 119. The floorboard of claim 119, having a mechanical locking system at two opposite side edges. 119. The floorboard of claim 110, wherein the mechanical locking system on two opposite short sides of the plate has the undercut grove and the tongue formed to lock together by a snap function. 138. The joint edge according to any one of claims 118 to 121, wherein the joint edge portion 4b and / or the tongue grove 36 have the tongue 38 on a pair of parallel joint edge portions. The floorboard according to claim 4, characterized in that the section (4a) is formed of a different material property than the joint edge section with the tongue and / or the joint groove section with the tongue groove on another pair of parallel joint edge sections. Core 30, front side 2, 32, rear side 34 and opposing joint edge portions 4a, 4b formed as part of a mechanical locking system, one of which has upper and lower ribs 39, Formed as a tongue grove 36 formed by 40 and having a bottom end 48, and the other as a tongue 38 having an upwards 8 at its free outer end, The tongue grove has the shape of an undercut grove 36 having an opening, an interior 35 and an internal locking surface 45, The tongue 38 cooperates with the inner locking face 45 in the tongue grove 36 of the adjacent floorboard when the two floorboards are mechanically coupled so that the front side 2 of the floorboard is the same surface plane. For joining on a floorboard with a locking face 65 which is located in HP and which is formed so that the tops of the joint edge portions 4a, 4b meet at the joint plane VP perpendicular to it. In the method, One joint edge 4b of the new plate to the other joint edge 4a of the previously laid floorboard until the tongue 38 of one plate is partially inserted into the tongue grove 36 of the other plate. Moving steps, The new plate is then placed on one floorboard during the contact between the tongue grove 36 and the upper and lower sides of the tongue grove 36 and the tongue 38 until the top of the joint edge portion of the floorboard comes into contact with each other. To insert the outer end 69 of the tongue 38 into the tongue grove 36 of another plate, which has a locking face 65 formed and at a distance from the tip within the upper portion 8 of the tongue. Angled upward with respect to the previously laid floorboard, Then, the new plate is joined with a corresponding support surface 50 formed on the lower lip 40 of the other plate by a support surface 71 formed on the lower side of the tongue 38. Angle the tongue 38 downward to a final position during continuous insertion into the tongue grove 36 to a position such that the plates are mechanically locked together both horizontally and vertically. . 126. A method according to claim 123, characterized in that during installation, the new plate and its tongue (38) move towards the tongue grove of the previously laid plate. 127. The method of claim 123, wherein during installation, the new plate and its undercut groves (36) are moved towards the tongue (38) of the previously laid plate. 126. A method according to any one of claims 123 to 125, wherein the upward angle of the new plate is pressed against the previously laid plate. 129. A method according to any one of claims 123 to 126, characterized in that the downward angling of the new plate occurs during contact between the previously laid plate and the upper joint edge portions 4a, 4b of the new plate. . 127. The method according to any one of claims 123 to 127, wherein the new plate is pressed against the previously laid plate during the downward angle. 129. The method of any one of claims 123-128, wherein said upward angling is terminated by snapping said tongue (38) with said tongue grove (36). 131. The method of claim 129, wherein the snapping in is performed by moving the upper lip (39) and the lower lip (40) of the tongue grove essentially away. 133. The method of claim 130, wherein said snapping in is performed by slightly bending said lower lip (40) of said tongue grove. The method according to any one of claims 123 to 131, characterized in that after installation, the new plate is moved along the previously laid plate and also secured mechanical locking along adjacent joint edges (4a, 4b). .