KR20140053262A - Mechanical locking system for floor panels - Google Patents

Abstract

A floor panel is provided in which a vertical locking system is provided on a short edge that includes a displaceable tongue that is displaced in one direction into a tongue groove during vertical displacement of two panels.

Description

{MECHANICAL LOCKING SYSTEM FOR FLOOR PANELS}

Technical field

The present invention generally relates to the field of mechanical locking systems and methods of manufacture for floor panels and building panels for inserting tongues into grooves.

Application Field of the Invention

Embodiments of the present invention are particularly suitable for use in floating floors formed of floor panels, which are mechanically connected by a locking system integral with the floor panel, i.e. factory mounted, One or more upper layers of a wood veneer, decorative laminate, powder-based surfaces or decorative plastic material, an intermediate core of a wood-fiber-based material or plastic material and preferably a back side And a lower balancing layer on the lower layer. Surface layers or soft wear layers of cork, rylloid, rubber, for example needle felt bonded to boards, printed and preferably also varnished surfaces and such as stones, tiles and similar materials Floor panels with floors with hard surfaces are included. Embodiments of the present invention may also be used to connect building panels that preferably include board materials, such as wall panels, ceilings, furniture components, and the like.

Accordingly, the known techniques, problems of known systems, and the following description of the objects and features of the present invention, as a non-limiting example, are to be accorded the broadest interpretation of the invention, The aim is panels formed as rectangular floor panels with intended long and short edges.

Long and short edges are mainly used to simplify the description of embodiments of the present invention. The panels may be square. The present invention is preferably used for short edges. The present invention may be combined with any known type of locking system that may be used on any floor panel and formed on long edges where the floor panels are connected to the panels in the horizontal and vertical directions on two or more adjacent sides It should be emphasized that it is intended to be connected using mechanical load balancing systems.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Laminate flooring typically comprises a core of 6 to 12 mm fiberboard, a top decorative surface layer of plywood of 0.2 to 0.8 mm thickness, and a bottom balancing layer of plywood, plastic, paper or similar material of 0.1 to 0.6 mm thickness . The plywood surface includes melamine-impregnated paper. The most common core materials are fiber boards with high density and excellent stability, commonly referred to as HDF-high density fiber boards. Sometimes also MDF-medium density fiber boards are used as cores.

Laminate floors are mechanically connected by so-called mechanical locking systems. These systems include locking means for locking the panels horizontally and vertically. Mechanical lock systems are usually formed by machining the core of the panel. Alternatively, portions of the locking system integral with the floor panel, i. E., Associated with the floor panel in connection with the manufacture of the floor panel, may be formed of separate materials, such as aluminum or HDF.

The main advantages of floating floors with mechanical locking systems are that these floating floors are easy to install. These floating floors can also easily be taken up again and used again at another location.

Definition of some terms

In the following, the visible surface of the installed floor panel is referred to as the "front side" whereas the opposite side of the floor panel facing the lower floor is referred to as the "rear side ". The edge between the front side and the back side is called the "joint edge "."Horizontalplane" means a plane extending parallel to the outer portion of the surface layer. The directly juxtaposed portions of two adjacent joint edges of two connected floor panels together define a "vertical plane" perpendicular to the horizontal plane. "Horizontal lock" means a lock parallel to the horizontal plane.

&Quot; Upward "means facing the front side," down "means facing the rear side," inward "means facing the inside and center portion of the panel in the horizontal direction, "Outwardly" means mainly moving in the horizontal direction from the central portion of the panel.

"Locking systems" means co-acting connection elements that connect floor panels in a vertical direction and / or a horizontal direction.

Related technology and its problems

Several methods may be used for mechanical connection of short edges as well as long edges in the first horizontal direction and in the vertical direction perpendicular to the long and short edges. One of the most commonly used methods is the slope-snap connection method (angle-snap method). Long edges are installed by angling. The panel is then displaced into the locking position along the long side. Short edges are locked by a horizontal snap connection. The vertical connection portion is generally a tongue portion and a groove. During horizontal displacement, the strip with the locking elements bends and when the edges contact, the strips spring back and the locking element enters the locking grooves to lock the panels in the horizontal direction. This snap connection is complicated because the hammer and tapping block need to be used to overcome the friction between the long edges and bend the strip during a snapping operation.

Similar locking systems can also be fabricated with rigid strips, which are connected by an angle ring-angle ring method in which both short and long edges are tilted into the locking position.

Recent new and very effective locking systems have been introduced, with separate flexible or displaceable integral tongues on a short edge, which is generally referred to as "vertical folding " Such a system is described in WO 2006/043893 (Vaelinge Innovation AB).

Several versions are available on the market. One of the most frequently used versions is shown in Figures 1A-1D. The flexible tongue 30 is displaced into the tongue groove 20 of the adjacent panel and within the displacement groove 40 extending in the horizontal direction during locking. The displaceable tongue section locks the panels in the horizontal direction, with strips 6 having a locking element that locks the edges in the vertical direction and cooperates with the locking groove 14. The lock is a combination of vertical displacement and turning similar to scissors. The tongue-like portion is gradually displaced inward during locking from one inner edge to the outer edge, as shown in Fig. 1d, so that the tongue is bent in the longitudinal direction. Such systems are referred to as vertical snap systems and these systems are automatically locked during the folding operation.

Although these systems are very efficient, there is still room for improvement.

The high locking force can only be achieved by a high snap connection resistance when the tongue-like portion is pressed inward and bent in the longitudinal direction. This creates separating forces that tend to press and separate the panels during folding. If the flexibility of the tongue-like portion and the pressing force are reduced with time, the lock may lose its strength.

Flexibility should allow and allow for the displacement of the flexible tongue in about two to two millimeters in two directions. The materials used to make such tongues are rather expensive and the glass fibers are generally used to reinforce the flexible tongue.

A key advantage is that the snap connection can be eliminated in a system that automatically locks during folding.

The overall object of an embodiment of the present invention is that the overall object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for forming a substantially rectangular shape with short and long edges provided with parallel rows, Thereby providing a locking system for floor panels.

A particular object is to provide a locking system with a separate displaceable tongue which can be longitudinally bendable by a small separation force and which includes means for preventing the locking tongue from sliding back into the groove.

The above objects of an embodiment of the present invention may be achieved in whole or in part by locking systems and floor panels in accordance with the present disclosure. Embodiments of the present invention will become apparent from the description and drawings.

Aspects of the present invention are building panels provided with a locking system for vertical locking of first and second building panels by vertical displacement of the panels relative to each other. The displaceable tongue is attached into a laterally open displacement groove provided in the edge of the first panel. The tongue cooperates with a tongue groove provided in an adjacent edge of a second panel for locking the edges in a vertical direction. The strips protrude outward beyond the upper portion of the adjacent edge and beneath the displacement groove, or outward beyond the upper portion of the adjacent edge. The displaceable tongue portion includes a pulling extension on an outer portion of the tongue portion configured to cooperate with a pulling protrusion formed on an edge of an adjacent panel such that when the edges of the panels are displaced in a direction perpendicular to each other, A possible tongue is pulled out of the displacement groove and into the tongue groove.

The pulling projection may be part of a tongue groove.

The pull extension can be inclined relative to the main horizontal plane of the panels.

The pulling projection can be inclined with respect to the main horizontal plane of the panels.

The displaceable tongue may be provided with a locking hook which prevents the tongue from sliding back into the displaceable groove after locking.

The locking hook can be locked against the outer portion of the displaceable groove.

The present disclosure will be described in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments and with reference to the accompanying exemplary drawings.
Figures 1A-1D illustrate locking systems in accordance with known techniques.
2A-2E illustrate a short edge locking system in accordance with the present invention.
Figures 3A-3C illustrate a short edge locking system in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention.
Figures 4A-4C illustrate preferred embodiments of short edge lock systems with individual strips.
Figures 5A-5E illustrate a locking system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention with a locking hook to prevent unlocking.
Figures 6A-6D illustrate a tongue according to one embodiment of the present invention with increased flexibility associated with bending in the longitudinal direction.
7A-7D illustrate a method according to an embodiment of the invention for inserting a tongue into a groove.
Figures 8A-8C illustrate an embodiment of the present invention.

To facilitate understanding, several locking systems are schematically illustrated in the figures. It should be emphasized that improved or different functions can be achieved using combinations of embodiments.

All of the embodiments may be used individually or in combination. Angles, dimensions, rounded portions, spaces between surfaces, etc. are merely examples that can be adjusted within the basic principles of the present invention.

Figures 2a to 2e show a first preferred embodiment of a short edge locking system provided with a flexible and displaceable tongue 30 in the edge of a first panel 1 inserted in a horizontal displacement groove 40 Respectively. The displaceable tongue 30 has a pull extension 31 including a tongue-shaped pulling surface 32 and a tongue-shaped locking surface 33. The adjacent second panel 1 'also has a pulling projection 21 with a groove pulling surface 22 which is a part of the sulcus groove 20 including the groove locking surface 23. The pulling surfaces 22, 32 pull the cooperating and displaceable tongue 30 into the tongue groove 20 during vertical displacement. The pull extension 31 includes a tongue lock surface 33 that locks against the groove locking surface 23 and prevents vertical displacement of the edges in a first vertical direction. The locking strip 6 and the lower portion 39 of the adjacent panel lock the edges in the second vertical direction. The locking element 8 and the locking groove 14 lock the edges in the horizontal direction with the upper edges. The vertical connection can be used without horizontal locking as shown by Figure 2e. Short edges can be locked horizontally, for example by friction between long edges.

The tongue may be attached to a panel, strip panel, or panel comprising the strip 6, or a panel including the lock groove, displacement groove 40 formed on the groove panel, as shown in Figures 3A-3C. The pulling projection 21 can extend upward or downward and the displacement groove can be inclined with respect to the horizontal plane HP.

4A-4C illustrate that the strip 6 can be formed as a separate material. The pulling projection 21 can be flexible, which can eliminate manufacturing tolerances and facilitate displacement of the tongue 30 into the tongue groove 20 during folding.

Figures 5a-5e show that the displaceable tongue 30 may include a locking hook 34 to prevent the tongue 30 from falling out of the groove 40, As shown in FIG. The locking angle A1 is preferably about 45 degrees or more. A larger angle facilitates displacement into the sulcus groove 20 but also facilitates rearward displacement. This can be prevented by the hook connection 34 preferably locking against the upper or lower portion of the displacement groove 40. The hook connection is pressed into the groove by a hammer that inserts the tongue 30 into the groove 40 during manufacture. The hook 34 slides against a bevel formed in the displacement groove 40 as shown in Fig. 5C. The upper portion of the locking element 8 is preferably positioned vertically below the tongue-shaped locking surface 33 as shown in Figure 5d. This provides a stronger lock. The locking system may have a geometric configuration that allows locking and unlocking according to angling.

6A-6C illustrate that when the short inner edge of the tongue is in the locked position and the short outer edge of the tongue 30 is in the unlocked position, as shown in Fig. 6D, as shown in Fig. 6B, (30) is turned and bent in the longitudinal direction during folding. The locking function can be improved if the cavities 35 are formed on the displaceable tongue 30. The locking can also be improved if the locking surface 32 at the edge has a smaller angle in the interior portion as shown in Figures 6b and 6c. The cavities 35 may be formed in the tongue section where the locking hooks 34 are formed. The displaceable tongue 30 preferably comprises a polymeric material and is preferably formed by injection molding.

Figures 7a-7d illustrate a hook portion 34a used to press the hook connection upward by inserting the rails 36 during the insertion of the tongue 30 into the displacement groove 40 .

Figures 8A-8C can be used to prevent the tornado from being unlocked in any locking system that displaces from an inward position to an outward position within the groove. The illustrated locking system includes pressure protrusions 38 located within the pressurized cavities 37. The pressing protrusions slide against the locking element 8 and press the tongue 30 into the tongue groove 20. [ The locking element 8 is preferably positioned vertically below the cooperating locking surfaces 23, 33 of the tongue 30 and the tongue groove 20.

Claims (6)

A building panel provided with a locking system for vertical locking of a first building panel (1) and a second building panel (1 ') by vertical displacement of building panels (1, 1'
A displaceable tongue (30) is attached into a displaced groove (40) which is open to the side provided in the edge of the first building panel and the tongue is connected to the second building panel (1) to lock the edge and adjacent edge vertically Cooperates with a tongue groove 20 provided at an adjacent edge of the tongue groove 20,
The strip (6) comprises:
Beyond the displacement groove and beyond the upper portion of the edge: < RTI ID = 0.0 > or
A building panel provided with a locking system for vertical locking of a first building panel and a second building panel projecting outward beyond the tongue groove and over the upper portion of the adjacent edge,
The displaced tongue 30 includes a pulling extension 31 on an outer portion of the displaced tongue configured to cooperate with a pulling protrusion 21 formed on the adjacent edge to define the edges of the building panels Characterized in that the displaceable tongue (30) is pulled out of the displacement groove (40) and into the tongue groove (20) when displaced in a direction perpendicular to one another.
A building panel provided with a locking system for vertical locking of a first building panel and a second building panel.
The method according to claim 1,
A portion of the pulling projection is a portion of the tongue groove (20)
A building panel provided with a locking system for vertical locking of a first building panel and a second building panel.
3. The method according to claim 1 or 2,
The pull extension (31) and the pull projection (21) are inclined with respect to the main horizontal plane (HP) of the panels,
A building panel provided with a locking system for vertical locking of a first building panel and a second building panel.
4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The displaceable tongue portion (30) includes a locking hook (34) that prevents the tongue portion from sliding back into the displacement groove (40) after locking.
A building panel provided with a locking system for vertical locking of a first building panel and a second building panel.
5. The method of claim 4,
The locking hook (34) locks against the outer portion of the displacement groove (40)
A building panel provided with a locking system for vertical locking of a first building panel and a second building panel.
6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The building panels may be floor panels,
A building panel provided with a locking system for vertical locking of a first building panel and a second building panel.

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