UA110987C2 - Mechanical interlock system for floor panels - Google Patents

Abstract

The claimed floor panels, which contain a vertical locking system on the short ribs, including a displaced tongue, which is configured to move in one direction in the tongue groove during the vertical movement of the two panels.

Description

The field of technology

This invention belongs to the field of mechanical locking systems for floor panels and building panels and the technology of inserting a tongue into the groove.

Field of application of the invention

Embodiments of the present invention are particularly suitable for use in floating floors, which are formed from floor panels that are mechanically connected to a locking system made integral with the floor panel, that is, installed at the factory, consisting of one or more top ditches of wood or wood veneer, decorative laminate, powder-based surfaces or decorative plastic, an intermediate inner layer of wood fiber material or plastic and preferably a lower balancing layer on the back side of said inner layer. These include floor panels with a surface rum of cork, linoleum, rubber or soft wear frames, such as needle felt, glued to a board, a printed and preferably also varnished surface, and floors with hard surfaces such as stone, tiles and similar materials. Variants of the invention can also be used to connect building panels, which preferably contain lumber, for example, wall panels, ceilings, furniture elements and the like.

Thus, the following description of known technology, problems of known systems, problems and features of this invention will be oriented, as a non-limiting example, primarily to this field of application and in particular to panels formed in the form of rectangular floor panels with long and short edges, made with the possibility mechanical connection with each other both on long and short edges. The mentioned long and short edges are used mainly to simplify the description of the embodiments of the invention. Panels can be square. The invention is mainly used on short ribs. It should be noted that the invention can be used in any floor panel, and it can be combined with all types of known interlocking systems formed on long ribs, where the floor panels are made with the possibility of connection using a mechanical interlocking system that connects panels in horizontal and vertical directions on at least two adjacent sides.

Prerequisites for creating an invention

Laminate flooring usually contains a central wood fiber layer 6-12 thick

Zo mm, the upper decorative surface layer of laminate with a thickness of 0.2-0.Ф8 mm and the lower balancing layer of laminate, plastic, paper or similar material with a thickness of 0.1-0.6 mm. The surface of the laminate contains paper impregnated with melamine. The most common inner layer material is high-density, high-strength fiberboard (HDP), commonly called high-density fiberboard (HDF). In some cases, medium density fiberboard (MDF) is also used as an inner layer.

Laminate floors are mechanically connected using so-called mechanical locking systems. These systems contain blocking means that block the panels horizontally and vertically. Mechanical locking systems are usually created by machining the inner layer of the panel. As an alternative, the parts of the locking system can be made of a separate material, for example, aluminum or HOR, which is combined with the floor panel, that is, connected to the floor panel in connection with its manufacture.

The main advantages of floating chaff with mechanical locking systems are that they are easy to install. they can also be easily removed and reused elsewhere.

Definition of some terms

In the description below, the visible surface of the installed floor panel is referred to as the "front face" and the opposite side of the floor panel facing the concrete subfloor is referred to as the "back face". The rib between the mentioned front and back side is called "connecting rib". "Horizontal plane" means a plane that continues parallel to the outer part of the surface layer. The upper parts of two adjacent connecting ribs of two connected floor panels located directly next to each other together form a "vertical plane" perpendicular to the mentioned horizontal plane. A "vertical lock" is a lock parallel to said vertical plane. A "horizontal lock" is a lock parallel to said horizontal plane.

The term "above" means near the front side, the term "below" means near the back side, the term "inside" means mainly horizontally near the inner and central part of the panel, and the term "outside" means mainly horizontally outside the central part of the panel.

"Interlocking systems" are interacting connecting elements that connect floor panels vertically and/or horizontally.

The field of technology and its problems

Several methods can be used for the mechanical connection of long ribs, as well as short ribs in the vertical and first horizontal directions, perpendicular to the mentioned ribs. One of the most widely used methods is the angled snap method. Long ribs are installed at an angle. The panel is then moved into the locking position along the long side. Short ribs are blocked using horizontal jumping. The vertical connection is usually a tongue-and-groove connection. During horizontal displacement, the rail with the locking element bends, and when the ribs come into contact, said rail springs and the locking element enters the locking groove and locks the panels horizontally. This snap connection is complicated because it may be necessary to use a hammer and tapping block to overcome the friction between the long ribs and the bent rail during snapping.

Similar locking systems can also be created with a rigid rail, and they are connected by turning to the required angle, while both the short and long ribs are turned to the locking position.

Recently, new, highly effective locking systems have been introduced with a separate flexible or built-in tongue that moves on the short rib, which ensures installation only when turned to the required angle, commonly called "vertical bending".

Such a system is described in M/O 2006/043893 (Maiipde Ippomaiyop AV).

Several options are used on the market. One of the most widely used variants is shown in fig. and-1d During locking, the flexible tongue 30 moves in the horizontally extending groove 40 of the displacement and in the tongue groove 20 of the adjacent panel.

The movable tongue locks the ribs vertically, and the rail 6 with the locking element, which interacts with the locking groove 14, locks the panels horizontally. Blocking is a combination of vertical displacement and rotation according to the principle of scissors. During locking, the tongue gradually moves inward from the inner edge to the outer edge, as shown in fig. 19, so that the tongue is bent in the direction of the length. Such systems are called systems with

With a vertical clip and they provide automatic locking during folding.

Although such systems are very effective, there is still room for improvement.

A large blocking force can be obtained only with a high resistance to pinching, when the tongue is pushed inward and bent in the direction of the length. At the same time, separation forces are formed, which tend to spread the panels during assembly. Locking can lose its strength if the flexibility and pressing force of the sheet pile decreases over time.

The flexibility must be significant and ensure the displacement of the flexible sheet pile in two directions by approximately 1-2 mm. The material used for the manufacture of such sheet piles is quite expensive, and glass fibers are usually used to strengthen the flexible sheet pile.

It would be very desirable to eliminate the pinching in the system that automatically closes during assembly.

The essence of the invention

The general object of the present invention is to provide a locking system for predominantly rectangular floor panels with long and short ribs installed in parallel rows, which allows the short ribs to automatically lock with each other without the pinching action that creates resistance to locking and forces to separate the short ribs during assembly.

A specific object is to provide a locking system with a separate offset tongue that is designed to be able to bend lengthwise with less separation effort and that includes means to prevent the tongue from slipping back into the groove after locking.

The mentioned objectives of the variant implementation of the invention can be achieved in whole or in part by means of interlocking systems and floor panels according to the present invention. The implementation options are obvious from the description and drawings.

One aspect of the invention is building panels containing a locking system for vertically locking the first and second building panels by vertical displacement of said panels relative to each other. The movable tongue is fixed in the open side of the displacement groove provided on the edge of the first panel. Said sheet tongue interacts with the sheet tongue groove provided in the adjacent rib of the second panel to lock the ribs vertically. The rail protrudes below the mentioned displacement groove and outwardly beyond the upper part of the mentioned rib or below the sheet tongue groove and outwardly beyond the upper part of the adjacent rib. Said offset tongue includes a pull-up extension in its outer portion adapted to engage with a pull-up projection formed on the edge of an adjacent panel so that the offset tongue is pushed out of the offset groove and into the tongue groove when the panel edges are moved vertically into close proximity to each other.

The mentioned pull-up protrusion can be a part of the tongue groove.

Said tightening extension can be located at an angle relative to the main horizontal plane of the panels.

Said pull-up protrusion can be located at an angle relative to the main horizontal plane of the panels.

The offset tongue may include a locking hook that prevents the tongue from slipping back into the offset groove after locking.

Said locking hook can lock by overcoming the resistance of the outer part of the displacement groove.

Brief description of the drawings

The invention will be described below in more detail using exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached exemplary drawings in which:

Fig. 1a-d show locking systems according to known technology.

Fig. 2a-e show a locking system of short ribs according to the invention.

Fig. Figures 1-2 show a short rib locking system according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 4a-c show preferred embodiments of locking systems of short ribs with a separate rail.

Fig. 5a-e show a locking system according to an embodiment of the invention with a locking hook that prevents unlocking.

Fig. 1a-1a show a sheet according to an embodiment of the invention with increased flexibility associated with bending in the longitudinal direction.

Fig. 7a-i show a method according to an embodiment of the invention for inserting a tongue into a groove.

Fig. va-c show an embodiment of the invention.

Detailed description of variants of implementation of the invention

For ease of understanding, several locking systems are schematically shown in the drawings. It should be noted that improved or different functions may be obtained by using combinations of embodiments.

All implementation options can be used separately or in combination. Angles, dimensions, rounded parts, gaps between surfaces and others are only examples that can be adjusted within the basic principles of the invention.

In fig. 2a-2e shows the first preferred embodiment of the locking system of short ribs, which includes a flexible and displaceable tongue Z0 in the rib of the first panel 1, inserted into the horizontally extending groove 40 displacement. The movable tongue 30 contains a tightening extension 31 containing a tongue tightening surface 32 and a tongue locking surface 33.

Second adjacent panel 1! contains a tightening protrusion 21 with a tightening surface 22 in the groove, which is also part of the tongue and groove groove 20, containing a locking surface 23 of the groove. Tightening surfaces 22, 32 interact during vertical movement and tighten the tongue 30, which moves into the tongue groove 20. The tightening extension 31 includes a tongue locking surface 33, which engages with the locking surface 23 of the groove and prevents vertical displacement of the ribs in the first vertical direction. The blocking rail 6 and the lower part 39 of the adjacent panel block the ribs in the second vertical direction. The blocking element 8 and the blocking groove 14 block the ribs horizontally together with the upper ribs. A vertical connection can be used without horizontal locking, as shown in fig. 26.

Short ribs can be locked horizontally by, for example, friction between long ribs.

The tongue can be attached to the offset groove 40 formed in the panel containing the rail 6, the panel with the rail or the panel containing the locking groove, the panel with the groove, as shown in fig.

Za-Zs. The tightening projection 21 may extend upwards or downwards, and the displacement groove may be located at an angle to the horizontal plane of the HP.

In fig. 4a-4c shows that the rail 6 can be made of a separate material. The tightening protrusion 21 can be flexible, and this can eliminate manufacturing tolerances and facilitate the displacement of the tongue 30 into the tongue groove 20 during assembly.

In fig. 5a-5e shows that the movable tongue 30 may include a locking hook 34, which may perform a frictional engagement function to prevent falling out of the groove 40 and also to prevent the tongue from slipping back after locking. The AT blocking angle is preferably about 45 degrees or more. A larger angle facilitates the movement into the tongue groove 20, but also the reverse movement. This can be prevented by means of a wheelbarrow connection 34, which preferably engages with the upper or lower part of the groove 40 displacement. The mentioned hook connection is pressed into the mentioned groove with the help of a hammer, which inserts the tongue 30 into the groove 40 during manufacture. The hook 34 slides close to the inclined surface formed in the offset groove 40, as shown in FIG. 5s. The upper part of the locking element 8 is preferably located vertically below the tongue locking surface 33, as shown in fig. 54. This provides a stronger lock. The mentioned locking system can be made with a geometry that provides locking and unlocking when turning.

In fig. ba-bs it is shown that the offset tongue 30 is turned and bent in the lengthwise direction during assembly, when the inner short edge of the tongue, which is shown in fig. 6b, is in the locked position, and the outer short edge of the tongue 30 is in the unlocked position, as shown in fig. ba. The locking function can be improved if cavities 35 are formed on the movable tongue 30. The locking can also be improved if the locking surface 32 on the edge has a smaller angle than on the inside, as shown in fig. br ii bs. Cavities 35 may be formed in those areas of the tongue where locking hooks 34 are formed. The movable tongue 30 preferably contains a polymeric material and is preferably formed by injection molding.

In fig. 7a-74 shows that the locking hook 34 may include a hook detail C34a, which is used to press the dovetail joint upward by inserting the guides 36 during insertion of the tongue Z0 into the displacement groove 40.

In fig. va-v8c shows that the locking hook 34 can be used to prevent unlocking in any locking system where the tongue is designed to move in the groove from an inward position to an outward position. The shown locking system includes tightening protrusions 38 located in tightening cavities 37. Tightening protrusions engage with the locking element 8 and tighten the tongue 30 into the tongue groove 20.

The locking element 8 is preferably located vertically below the interacting locking surfaces 23, 33 of the tongue 30 and tongue groove 20.

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Claims (1)

FORMULA OF THE INVENTION 1. Building panels comprising a locking system for vertically locking the first (1) and second building panels (1) by means of vertical movement of said building panels (1, 1") relative to each other, wherein the movable tongue (30) is secured in an open on the side of the offset groove (40) made in the rib of the first construction panel, while the tongue is made with the possibility of interaction with the tongue groove (20), made in the adjacent rib of the second construction panel (1), to block the mentioned rib and the adjacent rib vertically, while rail (6) protrudes: below the displacement groove and outward beyond the upper part of the mentioned rib; or below the tongue groove and outward beyond the upper part of the adjacent rib, which differ in that the displaced tongue (30) contains a tightening extension (31) in its outer part ), made with the possibility of interaction with the tightening protrusion (21) formed in the adjacent rib so that the offset tongue (30) is pushed out of the groove (40) of displacement into the tongue groove (20), when the edges of the building panels are moved vertically relative to each other. 2. Building panels according to claim 1, in which part of the tightening protrusion is part of the tongue groove (20). C. Building panels according to claim 1 or 2, in which the tightening extension (31) and the tightening protrusion (21) are located at an angle relative to the main horizontal plane (HP) of the panels. 4. Building panels according to any of claims 1-3, in which the offset tongue (30) includes a locking hook (34) that prevents the tongue from slipping back into the offset groove (40) after locking. 5. Building panels according to claim 4, in which the locking hook (34) is engaged with the outer part of the offset groove (40). b. Building panels according to any one of claims 1-5, in which the building panels are floor panels. tt ach u i Kot dr 8 and you Fig. 1a che g! in her Fig. 15 1 g U 1015 M b V A-A m-n She - .. at 1s - Fig. 14 7 K- y and U Zh t nyny x kh i: vina 7 ko 176 i ol-t, Kk pin ; Innu ey I Denievutttn netto Y ra I liy Zhanna 7 still tia, pi KAK nn u nnyy I SHY. Kon , vd- in 4000 V still x sy li and nki r ts She , is Y 16 2---3 x u i: , U xx | x ! with 3 in Hor rn and | x and Shk av and | sen o che she : r rennie sh she ! shotyat ich nom nt y KV 7 u 2 28 1 U 2253 ! in t 31 14 a 8 Fig. 2a. t 1 and and in kheti I Z 8 8 Fig. 25 1 KN U in 40 Y Fig. 2s 22.32 4th Sat At 8 Or. 24 1 thsv in i gamma. o, 23.33 Fig, 22 In the 14. 21 she V b Fig. For 1 " in x Fig. 35 I 1 in UR in Ne vn and pen a ED 20 X , Fig. Zs 4 Sh tya s t V Fig. 4a