US20050166516A1 - Floor covering and locking systems - Google Patents

Floor covering and locking systems Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US20050166516A1
US20050166516A1 US11/034,059 US3405905A US2005166516A1 US 20050166516 A1 US20050166516 A1 US 20050166516A1 US 3405905 A US3405905 A US 3405905A US 2005166516 A1 US2005166516 A1 US 2005166516A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
floorboards
floor
joint
locking
locking system
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US11/034,059
Inventor
Darko Pervan
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Valinge Innovation AB
Original Assignee
Valinge Aluminium AB
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from SE0400068A external-priority patent/SE526596C2/en
Application filed by Valinge Aluminium AB filed Critical Valinge Aluminium AB
Priority to US11/034,059 priority Critical patent/US20050166516A1/en
Assigned to VALINGE ALUMINIUM AB reassignment VALINGE ALUMINIUM AB ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: PERVAN, DARKO
Publication of US20050166516A1 publication Critical patent/US20050166516A1/en
Priority to US11/822,682 priority patent/US8495849B2/en
Assigned to VALINGE INNOVATION AB reassignment VALINGE INNOVATION AB CHANGE OF NAME (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: VALINGE ALUMINIUM AB
Priority to US14/021,532 priority patent/US9322183B2/en
Priority to US15/078,470 priority patent/US10138637B2/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04BUILDING
    • E04FFINISHING WORK ON BUILDINGS, e.g. STAIRS, FLOORS
    • E04F15/00Flooring
    • E04F15/02Flooring or floor layers composed of a number of similar elements
    • E04F15/02038Flooring or floor layers composed of a number of similar elements characterised by tongue and groove connections between neighbouring flooring elements
    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04BUILDING
    • E04FFINISHING WORK ON BUILDINGS, e.g. STAIRS, FLOORS
    • E04F15/00Flooring
    • E04F15/02Flooring or floor layers composed of a number of similar elements
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B27WORKING OR PRESERVING WOOD OR SIMILAR MATERIAL; NAILING OR STAPLING MACHINES IN GENERAL
    • B27FDOVETAILED WORK; TENONS; SLOTTING MACHINES FOR WOOD OR SIMILAR MATERIAL; NAILING OR STAPLING MACHINES
    • B27F1/00Dovetailed work; Tenons; Making tongues or grooves; Groove- and- tongue jointed work; Finger- joints
    • B27F1/02Making tongues or grooves, of indefinite length
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B27WORKING OR PRESERVING WOOD OR SIMILAR MATERIAL; NAILING OR STAPLING MACHINES IN GENERAL
    • B27FDOVETAILED WORK; TENONS; SLOTTING MACHINES FOR WOOD OR SIMILAR MATERIAL; NAILING OR STAPLING MACHINES
    • B27F1/00Dovetailed work; Tenons; Making tongues or grooves; Groove- and- tongue jointed work; Finger- joints
    • B27F1/08Making dovetails, tongues, or tenons, of definite limited length
    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04BUILDING
    • E04FFINISHING WORK ON BUILDINGS, e.g. STAIRS, FLOORS
    • E04F2201/00Joining sheets or plates or panels
    • E04F2201/01Joining sheets, plates or panels with edges in abutting relationship
    • E04F2201/0153Joining sheets, plates or panels with edges in abutting relationship by rotating the sheets, plates or panels around an axis which is parallel to the abutting edges, possibly combined with a sliding movement

Definitions

  • the invention relates generally to the technical field of locking systems for floorboards.
  • the invention concerns on the one hand a locking system for floorboards which can be joined mechanically and, on the other hand, floorboards and floor systems provided with such a locking system and a production method to produce such floorboards.
  • the present invention is particularly suited for use in floating wooden floors and laminate floors, such as massive wooden floors, parquet floors, floors with a surface of veneer, laminate floors with a surface layer of high pressure laminate or direct laminate and the like.
  • the visible surface of the installed floorboard is called “front side”, while the opposite side of the floorboard facing the subfloor is called “rear side”.
  • floor surface is meant the major outer flat part of the floorboard, which is opposite to the rear side and which is located in one single plane. Bevels, grooves and similar decorative features are parts of the front side but they are not parts of the floor surface.
  • laminate floor is meant a floor having a surface, which consists of melamine impregnated paper, which has been compressed under pressure and heat.
  • Horizontal plane relates to a plane, which is extended parallel to the outer part of the floor surface.
  • Very plane relates to a plane perpendicular to the horizontal plane.
  • joint edge The outer parts of the floorboard at the edge of the floorboard between the front side and the rear side are called “joint edge”.
  • joint edge portion is meant a part of the joint edge of the floorboard.
  • joint or locking system are meant cooperating connecting means, which interconnect the floorboards vertically and/or horizontally.
  • mechanical locking system is meant that joining can take place without glue. Mechanical locking systems can in many cases also be joined by glue.
  • vertical locking is meant locking parallel to the vertical plane. As a rule, vertical locking consists of a tongue, which cooperates with a tongue groove.
  • horizontal locking is meant locking parallel to the horizontal plane.
  • joint opening is meant a groove which is defined by two joint edges of two joined floorboards and which is open to the front side.
  • joint gap is meant the minimum distance between two joint edge portions of two joined floorboards within an area, which is defined by the front side and the upper part of the tongue next to the front side.
  • open joint gap is meant a joint gap, which is open towards the front side.
  • visible joint gap is meant a joint gap, which is visible to the naked eye from the front side for a person walking on the floor, or a joint gap, which is larger than the general requirements on joint gaps established by the industry for various floor types.
  • continuous floating floor surface is meant a floor surface, which is installed in one piece without expansion joints.
  • Floating floors of this kind are usually joined by means of glued tongue and groove joints.
  • the boards In laying, the boards are brought together horizontally, a projecting tongue along the joint edge of one board being inserted into a tongue groove along the joint edge of an adjoining board.
  • the tongue and groove joint positions and locks the floorboards vertically and the glue locks the boards horizontally.
  • the same method is used on both long side and short side, and the boards are usually laid in parallel rows long side against long side and short side against short side.
  • floorboards In addition to such traditional floating floors, which are joined by means of glued tongue and groove joints, floorboards have been developed in recent years, which do not require the use of glue but which are instead joined mechanically by means of so-called mechanical locking systems.
  • These systems comprise locking means, which lock the boards mechanically horizontally and vertically without glue.
  • the vertical locking means are generally formed as a tongue, which cooperates with a tongue grove.
  • the horizontal locking means comprising a locking element, which cooperates with a locking groove.
  • the locking element could be formed on a strip extending from the lower part of the tongue groove or it could be formed on the tongue.
  • the mechanical locking systems can be formed by machining the core of the board.
  • parts of the locking system such as the tongue and/or the strip can be made of a separate material, which is integrated with the floorboard, i.e., already joined with the floorboard in connection with the manufacture thereof at the factory.
  • the floorboards can be joined mechanically by various combinations of angling, snapping-in, vertical change of position such as the so-called vertical folding and insertion along the joint edge. All of these installation methods, except vertical folding, require that one side of the floorboard, the long or short side, could be displaced in locked position.
  • a lot of locking systems on the market are produced with a small play between the locking element and the locking grove in order to facilitate displacement.
  • the intention is to produce floorboards, which are possible to displace, and which at the same time are connected to each other with a fit, which is as tight as possible.
  • a very small displacement play of for instance 0.01-0.05 mm is often sufficient to reduce the friction between wood fibers considerably.
  • Wooden and laminate floors are also joined by gluing or nailing to the subfloor. Such gluing/nailing counteracts movements due to moisture and keeps the floorboards joined.
  • the movement of the floorboards occurs about a center in each floorboard. Swelling and shrinking can occur by merely the respective floorboards, and thus not the entire floor surface, changing in shape.
  • Floorboards that are joined by gluing/nailing to the subfloor do not require any locking systems at all. However, they can have traditional tongue and groove joints, which facilitate vertical positioning. They can also have mechanical locking systems, which lock and position the floorboards vertically and/or horizontally in connection with laying.
  • the advantage of floating flooring is that a change in shape due to different degrees of relative humidity RH can occur concealed under baseboards and the floorboards can, although they swell and shrink, be joined without visible joint gaps. Installation can, especially by using mechanical locking systems, take place quickly and easily and the floor can be taken up and be laid once more in a different place.
  • the drawback is that the continuous floor surface must as a rule be limited even in the cases where the floor consists of relatively dimensionally stable floorboards, such as laminate floor with a fiberboard core or wooden floors composed of several layers with different fiber directions. The reason is that such dimensionally stable floors as a rule have a change in dimension, which is about 0.1% corresponding to about 1 mm per meter when the RH varies between 25% in winter and 85% in summer.
  • Such a floor will, for example, over a distance of ten meters shrink and swell about 10 mm.
  • a large floor surface must be divided into smaller surfaces with expansion strips, for example, every tenth or fifteenth meter. Without such a division, it is a risk that the floor when shrinking will change in shape so that it will no longer be covered by baseboards.
  • the load on the locking system will be great since great loads must be transferred when a large continuous surface is moving. The load will be particularly great in passages between different rooms.
  • expansion joint profiles should be installed on surfaces greater than 12 m in the direction of the length of the individual flooring planks and on surfaces greater than 8 m in the width direction. Such profiles should also be installed in doorways between rooms. Similar installation guidelines are used by producers of floating floors with a surface of wood. Expansion joint profiles are generally aluminum or plastic section fixed on the floor surface between two separate floor units. They collect dirt, give an unwanted appearance and are rather expensive. Due to these limitations on maximum floor surfaces, laminate floorings have only reached a small market share in commercial applications such as hotels, airports, and large shopping areas.
  • Unstable floors such as homogenous wooden floors, may exhibit still greater changes in shape.
  • the factors that above all affect the change in shape of homogenous wooden floors are fiber direction and kind of wood.
  • a homogenous oak floor is very stable along the fiber direction, i.e., in the longitudinal direction of the floorboard. In the transverse direction, the movement can be 3% corresponding to 30 mm per meter or more as the RH varies during the year.
  • Other kinds of wood exhibit still greater changes in shape.
  • Floorboards exhibiting great changes in shape can as a rule not be installed floating. Even if such an installation would be possible, the continuous floor surface must be restricted significantly.
  • the advantage of gluing/nailing to the subfloor is that large continuous floor surfaces can be provided without expansion joint profiles and the floor can take up great loads.
  • a further advantage is that the floorboards do not require any vertical and horizontal locking systems, and they can be installed in advanced patterns with, for example, long sides joined to short sides. This method of installation involving attachment to the subfloor has, however, a number of considerable drawbacks.
  • the main drawback is that as the floorboards shrink, a visible joint gap arises between the boards.
  • the joint gap can be relatively large, especially when the floorboards are made of moisture sensitive wood materials. Homogenous wooden floors that are nailed to a subfloor can have joint gaps of 3-5 mm.
  • the distance between the boards can be irregularly distributed with several small and some large gaps, and these gaps are not always parallel.
  • the joint gap can vary over the length of the floorboard.
  • the large joint gaps contain a great deal of dirt, which penetrates down to the tongue and prevents the floorboards from taking their original position in swelling.
  • the installation methods are time-consuming, and in many cases the subfloor must be adjusted to allow gluing/nailing to the subfloor.
  • the present invention relates to locking systems, floorboards and floors which make it possible to install floating floors in large continuous surfaces and with floorboards that exhibit great dimensional changes as the relative humidity (RH) changes.
  • the invention also relates to production methods and production equipment to produce such floors.
  • a first object of the present invention is to provide a floating floor of rectangular floorboards with mechanical locking systems, in which floor the size, pattern of laying and locking system of the floorboards cooperate and allow movements between the floorboards.
  • the individual floorboards can change in shape after installation, i.e., shrink and swell due to changes in the relative humidity. This can occur in such a manner that the change in shape of the entire floor surface can be reduced or preferably be eliminated while at the same time the floorboards remain locked to each other without large visible joint gaps.
  • a second object is to provide locking systems, which allow a considerable movement between floorboards without large and deep dirt-collecting joint gaps and/or where open joint gaps could be excluded.
  • Such locking systems are particularly suited for moisture sensitive materials, such as wood, but also when large floating floors are installed using wide and/or long floorboards.
  • the terms long side and short side are used in the description to facilitate understanding.
  • the boards can according to the invention also be square or alternately square and rectangular, and optionally also exhibit different patterns and angles between opposite sides.
  • a floating floor comprises rectangular floorboards, which are joined by a mechanical locking system.
  • the joined floorboards have a horizontal plane, which is parallel to the floor surface, and a vertical plane, which is perpendicular to the horizontal plane.
  • the locking system has mechanically cooperating locks for vertical joining parallel to the vertical plane and for horizontal joining parallel to the horizontal plane of a first and a second joint edge.
  • the vertical locks comprise a tongue, which cooperates with a groove
  • the horizontal locks comprise a locking element with a locking surface cooperating with a locking groove.
  • the format, installation pattern and locking system of the floorboards are designed in such a manner that a floor surface of 1*1 meter can change in shape in at least one direction at least 1 mm when the floorboards are pressed together or pulled apart. This change in shape can occur without visible joint gaps.
  • a locking system for mechanical joining of floorboards, in which locking system the joined floorboards have a horizontal plane which is parallel to the floor surface and a vertical plane which is perpendicular to the horizontal plane.
  • the locking system has mechanically cooperating locks for vertical joining parallel to the vertical plane and for horizontal joining parallel to the horizontal plane of a first and a second joint edge.
  • the vertical locks comprise a tongue, which cooperates with a groove and the horizontal of a locking element with a locking surface, which cooperates with a locking groove.
  • the first and the second joint edge have upper and lower joint edge portions located between the tongue and the floor surface. The upper joint edge portions are closer to the floor surface than the lower.
  • the floor comprises rather small floorboards and many joints, which could compensate swelling and shrinking.
  • the production tolerances should be rather small since well-defined plays and joint openings are generally required to produce a high quality floor according to the invention.
  • a set of tools comprises preferably one or more milling tools which are arranged and dimensioned to machine a locking system in a manner known to those skilled in the art.
  • the most used equipment is an end tenor, double or single, where a chain and a belt are used to move the floorboard with great accuracy along a well defined feeding direction.
  • Pressure shoes and support unites are used in many applications together with the chain and the belt mainly to prevent vertical deviations. Horizontal deviation of the floorboard is only prevented by the chain and the belt.
  • a third object of the present invention is to provide equipment and production methods which make it possible to produce floorboards and mechanical locking systems with an end tenor but with better precision than what is possible to accomplish with known technology.
  • Equipment for production of building panels, especially floorboards comprises a chain, a belt, a pressure shoe and a tool set.
  • the chain and the belt are arranged to displace the floorboard relative the tool set and the pressure shoe, in a feeding direction.
  • the pressure shoe is arranged to press towards the rear side of the floorboard.
  • the tool set is arranged to form an edge portion of the floorboard when the floorboard is displaced relative the tool set.
  • One of the tools of the tool set forms a guiding surface in the floorboard.
  • the pressure shoe has a guiding device, which cooperates with the guiding surface and prevents deviations in a direction perpendicular to the feeding direction and parallel to the rear side of the floorboard.
  • a grove could be formed on the rear side of a floorboard and that a ruler could be inserted into the groove to guide the floorboards when they are displaced by a belt that moves the boards on a table. It is not known that special guiding surfaces and guiding devices could be used in an end tenor where a pressure shoe cooperates with a chain.
  • a fourth object of the present invention is to provide a large semi-floating floor of rectangular floorboards with mechanical locking systems, in which floor the format, installation pattern and locking system of the floorboards are designed in such a manner that a large semi-floating continuous surface, with length or width exceeding 12 m, could be installed without expansion joints.
  • FIGS. 1 a - 1 b show floorboards with locking system.
  • FIGS. 2 a - 2 f show locking systems and laying patterns.
  • FIGS. 3 a - 3 e show locking systems.
  • FIGS. 4 a - 4 c show locking systems.
  • FIGS. 5 a - 5 d show joined floorboards and testing methods.
  • FIGS. 6 a - 6 e show locking systems.
  • FIGS. 7 a - 7 e show locking systems.
  • FIGS. 8 a - 8 f show locking systems.
  • FIGS. 9 a - 9 d show locking systems.
  • FIGS. 10 a - 10 d show production equipment
  • FIGS. 11 a - 11 d show production equipment
  • FIGS. 12 a - 12 c show locking system.
  • FIGS. 1 a and 1 b illustrate floorboards which are of a first type A and a second type B according to the invention and whose long sides 4 a and 4 b in this embodiment have a length which is 3 times the length of the short sides 5 a , 5 b .
  • the long sides 4 a , 4 b of the floorboards have vertical and horizontal connectors, and the short sides 5 a , 5 b of the floorboards have horizontal connectors.
  • the two types are identical except that the location of the locks is mirror-inverted.
  • the locks allow joining of long side 4 a to long side 4 b by at least inward angling and long side 4 a to short side 5 a by inward angling, and also short side 5 b to long side 4 b by a vertical motion.
  • Joining of both long sides 4 a , 4 b and short sides 5 a , 5 b in a herringbone pattern or in parallel rows can in this embodiment take place merely by an angular motion along the long sides 4 a , 4 b .
  • the long sides 4 a , 4 b of the floorboards have connectors, which in this embodiment comprising a strip 6 , a tongue groove 9 and a tongue 10 .
  • the short sides 5 a also have a strip 6 and a tongue groove 9 whereas the short sides 5 b have no tongue 10 .
  • the two types of floorboards need not be of the same format and the locking means can also have different shapes, provided that as stated above they can be joined long side against short side.
  • the connectors can be made of the same material, or of different materials, or be made of the same material but with different material properties.
  • the connectors can be made of plastic or metal. They can also be made of the same material as the floorboard, but be subjected to a treatment modifying their properties, such as impregnation or the like.
  • the short sides 5 b can have a tongue and the floorboards can then be joined in prior-art manner in a diamond pattern by different combinations of angular motion and snap motions. Short sides could also have a separate flexible tongue, which during locking could be displaced horizontally.
  • FIG. 2 a shows the connectors of two floorboards 1 , 1 ′ that are joined to each other.
  • the floorboards have a surface layer 31 of laminate, a core 30 of, for instance, HDF, which is softer and more compressible than the surface layer 31 , and a balancing layer 32 .
  • the vertical locking D 1 comprises a tongue groove 9 , which cooperates with a tongue 10 .
  • the horizontal locking D 2 comprises a strip 6 with a locking element 8 , which cooperates with a locking groove 12 .
  • This locking system can be joined by inward angling along upper joint edges. It could also be modified in such a way that it could be locked by horizontal snapping.
  • the locking element 8 and the locking groove 12 have cooperating locking surfaces 15 , 14 .
  • the floorboards can, when joined and pressed against each other in the horizontal direction D 2 , assume a position where there is a play 20 between the locking surfaces 14 , 15 .
  • FIG. 2 b show that when the floorboards are pulled apart in the opposite direction, and when the locking surfaces 14 , 15 are in complete contact and pressed against each other, a joint gap 21 arises in the front side between the upper joint edges.
  • the play between the locking surfaces 14 , 15 are defined as equal to the displacement of the upper joint edges when these edges are pressed together and pulled apart as described above.
  • This play in the locking system is the maximum floor movement that takes place when the floorboards are pressed together and pulled apart with a pressure and pulling force adapted to the strength of the edge portions and the locking system.
  • the play and joint gap can be, for example, 0.05-0.10 mm.
  • Joint gaps which are about 0.1 mm, are considered acceptable. They are difficult to see and normal dirt particles are too big to penetrate into the locking system through such small joint gaps.
  • joint gaps up to 0.20 mm with a play of for example 0.25 mm could be accepted, especially if play and joint gaps are measured when a considerable pressure and pulling force is used. This maximum joint gap will occur in extreme conditions only when the humidity is very low, for example below 20% and when the load on the floor is very high. In normal condition and applications the joint gap in such a floor could be 0.10 mm or less.
  • FIG. 2 b shows an ordinary laminate floor with floorboards in the size of 1.2*0.2 m, which are installed in parallel rows.
  • a laminate floor shrinks and swells about 1 mm per meter.
  • the longitudinal direction D 2 A there is only one joint per 1.2 m, which allows a movement of 0.1 mm.
  • the play 20 and the joint gap 21 in the locking system thus contribute only marginally to reduce shrinking and swelling of the floor in the direction D 2 parallel to the long sides.
  • To reduce the movement of the floor to half of the movement that usually occurs in a floor without play 20 and joint gap 21 it is necessary to increase the play 20 to 0.6 mm, and this results in too big a joint gap 21 on the short side.
  • FIG. 2 c shows floorboards with, for instance, a core 30 of fiberboard, such as HDF, and a surface layer of laminate or veneer, which has a maximum dimensional change of about 0.1%, i.e., 1 mm per meter.
  • the floorboards are installed in parallel rows. In this embodiment, they are narrow and short with a size of, for example, 0.5*0.08 m. If the play is 0.1 mm, 12 floorboards with their 12 joints over a floor length of one meter will allow a movement in the transverse direction D 2 B of 1.2 mm, which is more than the maximum dimensional change of the floor. Thus the entire movement may occur by the floorboards moving relative to each other, and the outer dimensions of the floor can be unchanged.
  • the two short side joints can only compensate for a movement of 0.2 mm per meter.
  • installation can suitably occur, contrary to the present recommended installation principles, with the long sides of the floorboards parallel to the width direction of the room and perpendicular to the length direction thereof.
  • a large continuous floating floor surface without large visible joint gaps can thus be provided with narrow floorboards which have a locking system with play and which are joined in parallel rows perpendicular to the length direction of the floor surface.
  • the locking system, the floorboards and the installation pattern should thus be adjusted so that a floor surface of 1*1 m can expand and be pressed together about 1 mm or more in at least one direction without damaging the locking system or the floorboards.
  • a mechanical locking system in a floating floor which is installed in home settings should have a mechanical locking system that withstands tensile load and compression corresponding to at least 200 kg per meter of floor length. More specifically, it should preferably be possible to achieve the above change in shape without visible joint gaps when the floor surface above is subjected to a compressive or tensile load of 200 kg in any direction and when the floorboards are conditioned in normal relative humidity of about 45%.
  • the strength of a mechanical locking system is of great importance in large continuous floating floor surfaces.
  • Such large continuous surfaces are defined as a floor surface with length and/or width exceeding 12 m.
  • Very large continuous surfaces are defined as floor surfaces with length and/or width exceeding 20 m.
  • Dimensionally stable floorboards such as laminate floors, which show average joint gaps exceeding 0.2 mm, when a tensile load of 200 kg/m is applied, are generally not suitable to use in a large high quality floating floor.
  • the invention could be used to install continuous floating floors with a length and/or width exceeding 20 m or even 40 m. In principle there are no limitations. Continuous floating floors with a surface of 10,000 m 2 or more could be installed according to invention.
  • FIG. 5 d illustrates a suitable testing method in order to ensure that the floorboards are sufficiently mobile in the joined state and that the locking system is strong enough to be used in a large continuous floating floor surface where the floor is a Semi Floating Floor.
  • 9 samples with 10 joints and with a length L of 100 mm (10% of 1 meter) have been joined along their respective long sides so as to correspond to a floor length TL of about 1 meter.
  • the amount of joints, in this example, 10 joints is referred to as Nj.
  • the boards are subjected to compressive and tensile load using a force F corresponding to 20 kg (200 N), which is 10% of 200 kg.
  • the change in length of the floor length TL hereafter referred to as ⁇ TL, should be measured.
  • This testing method will also measure dimensional changes of the floorboard. Such dimensional changes are in most floorboards extremely small compared to the play. As mentioned before, due to compression of top edges and eventually some very small dimensional changes of the floor board itself, the average joint gap will always be smaller than the average play AP. This means that in order to make sure that the floor movement is sufficient ( ⁇ TL) and that the average joint gaps 21 do not exceed the stipulated maximum levels, only ⁇ TL has to be measured and controlled, since ⁇ TL/Nj is always larger or equal to the average joint gap 21 .
  • FF AP ⁇ AAJG
  • In a laminate floor ⁇ TL should preferably exceed 1 mm.
  • Lower or higher force F could be used to design floorboards, installation patterns and locking systems which could be used as Semi Floating Floors. In some applications for example in home environment with normal moisture conditions a force F of 100 kg (1000 N) per meter could be sufficient. In very large floating floors a force F of 250-300 kg or more could be used.
  • Mechanical locking systems could be designed with a locking force of 1000 kg or more.
  • the joint gap in such locking systems could be limited to 0.2 mm even when a force F of 400-500 kg is applied.
  • the pushback effect caused by the locking element 8 , the locking surfaces 15 , 14 and the locking strip 6 could be measured by increasing and decreasing the force F in steps of for example 100 kg.
  • a mechanical locking system with a high pushback effect is an advantage in a semi-floating floor.
  • ⁇ TL1 should be at least 75% of ⁇ TL2. In some applications even 50% could be sufficient.
  • FIG. 2 e shows floor surface of one square meter which consists of the above-described floorboards installed in a herringbone pattern long side against short side and shows the position of the floorboards when, for instance, in summer they have swelled to their maximum dimension.
  • FIG. 2 f shows the position of the floorboards when, for instance, in winter, they have shrunk.
  • the locking system with the inherent play then results in a joint gap 21 between all joint edges of the floorboards. Since the floorboards are installed in a herringbone pattern, the play of the long sides will help to reduce the dimensional changes of the floor in all directions.
  • FIG. 2 e shows floor surface of one square meter which consists of the above-described floorboards installed in a herringbone pattern long side against short side and shows the position of the floorboards when, for instance, in summer they have swelled to their maximum dimension.
  • FIG. 2 f shows the position of the floorboards when, for instance, in winter, they have shrunk
  • the critical direction is the diagonal directions D 2 C and D 2 D of the floor where 7 joint gaps must be adjusted so as to withstand a shrinkage over a distance of 1.4 m.
  • This can be used to determine the optimal direction of laying in a large floor.
  • a joint gap of 0.2 mm will completely eliminate the movement of the floor in all directions.
  • the invention also allows partition walls to be attached to an installed floating floor, which can reduce the installation time.
  • a floor with a surface of veneer or laminate and with a core of a fiberboard-based panel can be manufactured so as to be highly dimensionally stable and have a maximum dimensional change in home settings of about 0.5-1.0 mm per meter.
  • Such semi-floating floors can be installed in spaces of unlimited size, and the maximum play can be limited to about 0.1 mm also in the cases where the floorboards have a width of preferably about 120 mm.
  • still smaller floorboards, for instance 0.4*0.06 m are still more favorable and can manage large surfaces also when they are made of materials that are less stable in shape.
  • a new type of semi-floating floor where the individual floorboards are capable of moving and where the outer dimensions of the floor need not be changed.
  • This can be achieved by optimal utilization of the size of the boards, the mobility of the locking system using a small play and a small joint gap, and the installation pattern of the floorboards.
  • a suitable combination of play, joint gap, size of the floorboard, installation pattern and direction of laying of the floorboards can thus be used in order to wholly or partly eliminate movements in a floating floor.
  • Much larger continuous floating floors can be installed than is possible today, and the maximum movement of the floor can be reduced to the about 10 mm that apply to current technology, or be completely eliminated.
  • the play 20 and the joint gap 21 in dimensionally stable floors should preferably be about 0.1-0.2 mm.
  • An especially preferred embodiment according to the invention is a semi-floating floor with the following characteristics:
  • the surface layer is laminate or wood veneer
  • the core of the floorboard is a wood based board such as MDF or HDF
  • the change in floor length ⁇ TL is at least 1,0 mm when a force F of 100 kg/m is used
  • the change in floor length ⁇ TL is at least 1.5 mm when a force F of 200 kg/m is used
  • average joint gaps do not exceed 0.15 mm when the force F is 100 kg/m and they do not exceed 0.20 mm when the force F is 200 kg/m.
  • FIG. 3 a shows a second embodiment, which can be used to counteract the problems caused by movements due to moisture in floating floors.
  • the floorboard has a surface 31 of direct laminate and a core of HDF.
  • a layer 33 which consists of melamine impregnated wood fibers. This layer forms, when the surface layer is laminated to HDF and when melamine penetrates into the core and joins the surface layer to the HDF core.
  • the HDF core 30 is softer and more compressible than the laminate surface 31 and the melamine layer 33 .
  • the surface layer 31 of laminate and, where appropriate, also parts of, or the entire, melamine layer 33 under the surface layer can be removed so that a decorative groove 133 forms in the shape of a shallow joint opening JO 1 .
  • This joint opening resembles a large joint gap in homogeneous wooden floors.
  • the groove 133 can be made on one joint edge only, and it can be colored, coated or impregnated in such a manner that the joint gap becomes less visible.
  • Such decorative grooves or joint openings can have, for example, a width JO 1 of, for example, 1-3 mm and a depth of 0.2-0.5 mm.
  • the width of JO 1 could preferably be rather small about 0.5-1.0 mm
  • the upper joint edges 16 , 17 can be compressed.
  • Such compression can be 0.1 mm in HDF.
  • Such a possibility of compression can replace the above-mentioned play and can allow a movement without a joint gap.
  • Chemical processing as mentioned above can also change the properties of the joint edge portion and help to improve the possibilities of compression.
  • the first and second embodiment can be combined. With a play of 0.1 mm and a possibility of compression of 0.1 mm, a total movement of 0.2 mm can be provided with a visible joint gap of 0.1 mm only.
  • Compression can also be used between the active locking surfaces 15 , 14 in the locking element 8 and in the locking groove 12 .
  • the separation of the floorboards is prevented when the locking surfaces 14 , 15 are in contact with each other and no substantial compression occurs.
  • the locking surfaces When subjected to additional tensile load in extreme climatic conditions, for instance when the RH falls below 25%, the locking surfaces will be compressed. This compression is facilitated if the contact surface CS of the locking surfaces 14 , 15 are small. It is advantageous if this contact surface CS in normal floor thicknesses 8-15 mm is about 1 mm or less. With this technique, floorboards can be manufactured with a play and joint gap of about 0.1 mm.
  • FIG. 3 b illustrates a third embodiment.
  • FIGS. 3 c and 3 d are enlargements of the joint edges in FIG. 3 b .
  • the floorboard 1 ′ has, in an area in the joint edge which is defined by the upper parts of the tongue 10 and the groove 9 and the floor surface 31 , an upper joint edge portion 18 and a lower joint edge portion 17 , and the floorboard 1 has in a corresponding area an upper joint edge portion 19 and a lower joint edge portion 16 .
  • the lower joint edge portions 16 , 17 will come into contact with each other. This is shown in FIG. 3 d .
  • the upper joint edge portions 18 , 19 are spaced from each other, and one upper joint edge portion 18 of one floorboard 1 ′ overlaps the lower joint edge portion 16 of the other floorboard 1 .
  • the locking system has a play 20 of for instance 0.2 mm between the locking surfaces 14 , 15 . If the overlap in this pressed-together position is 0.2 mm, the boards can, when being pulled apart, separate from each other 0.2 mm without a visible joint gap being seen from the surface. This embodiment will not have an open joint gap because the joint gap will be covered by the overlapping joint edge portion 18 . This is shown in FIG. 3 c . It is an advantage if the locking element 8 and the locking grove 12 are such that the possible separation i.e. e.
  • the play is slightly smaller then the overlapping.
  • a small overlapping for example 0.05 mm should exist in the joint even when the floorboards are pulled apart and a pulling force F is applied to the joint.
  • This overlapping will prevent moisture to penetrate into the joint.
  • the joint edges will be stronger since the lower edge portion 16 will support the upper edge portion 18 .
  • the decorative groove 133 can be made very shallow and all dirt collecting in the groove can easily be removed by a vacuum cleaner in connection with normal cleaning. No dirt or moisture can penetrate into the locking system and down to the tongue 12 .
  • This technique involving overlapping joint edge portions can, of course, be combined with the two other embodiments on the same side or on long and short sides.
  • the long side could for instance have a locking system according to the first embodiment and the short side according to the second.
  • the visible and open joint gap can be 0.1 mm, the compression 0.1 mm and the overlap 0.1 mm.
  • the floorboards' possibility of moving will then be 0.3 mm all together and this considerable movement can be combined with a small visible open joint gap and a limited horizontal extent of the overlapping joint edge portion 18 that does not have to constitute a weakening of the joint edge.
  • Such a locking system which thus can provide a considerable possibility of movement without visible joint gaps, can be used in all the applications described above.
  • the locking system is especially suitable for use in broad floorboards, on the short sides, when the floorboards are installed in parallel rows and the like, i.e., in all the applications that require great mobility in the locking system to counteract the dimensional change of the floor. It can also be used in the short sides of floorboards, which constitute a frame FR, or frieze round a floor installed in a herringbone pattern according to FIG. 5 c .
  • the vertical extent of the overlapping joint edge portion i.e., the depth GD of the joint opening, is less than 0.1 times the floor thickness T.
  • An especially preferred embodiment according to the invention is a semi-floating floor with the following characteristics:
  • the surface layer is laminate or wood veneer
  • the core of the floorboard is a wood based board such as MDF or HDF
  • the floor thickness T is 6-9 mm
  • the overlapping OL is smaller than the average play AP when a force F of 100 kg/m is used.
  • the overlapping OL on the short sides could be equal or larger than the overlapping on the long sides.
  • FIG. 3 e show an embodiment where the joint opening JO 1 is very small or nonexistent when the floorboards are pressed together.
  • This joint opening will be substantially of the same size as the average play AP.
  • the decorative groove could for example be colored in some suitable design matching the floor surface and a play will not cause an open joint gap.
  • a very small overlapping OL of some 0.1 mm (0.01*T ⁇ 0.02*T) only and slightly smaller average play AP could give sufficient floor movement and this could be combined with a moisture resistant high quality joint.
  • the play will also facilitate locking, unlocking and displacement in locked position.
  • Such overlapping edge portions could be used in all known mechanical locking systems in order to improve the function of the mechanical locking system.
  • FIGS. 4 a and 4 b show how a locking system can be designed so as to allow a floating installation of floor-boards, which comprise a moisture sensitive material.
  • the floorboard is made of homogeneous wood.
  • FIG. 4 a shows the locking system in a state subjected to tensile load
  • FIG. 4 b shows the locking system in the compressed state.
  • the relative size of the joint openings should not differ much from each other.
  • the smallest joint opening JO 2 should be greater than half the greatest joint opening JO 1 .
  • the depth GD should preferably be less than 0.5*TT, TT being the distance between the floor surface and the upper parts of the tongue/groove. In the case where there is no tongue, GD should be less than 0.2 times the floor thickness T. This facilitates cleaning of the joint opening.
  • JO 1 is about 1-5 mm, which corresponds to normal gaps in homogeneous wooden floors.
  • the overlapping joint edge portion should preferably lie close to the floor surface. This allows a shallow joint opening while at the same time vertical locking can occur using a tongue 10 and a groove 9 which are placed essentially in the central parts of the floorboard between the front side and the rear side where the core 30 has good stability.
  • FIG. 4 c An alternative way of providing a shallow joint opening, which allows movement, is illustrated in FIG. 4 c .
  • the upper part of the tongue 10 has been moved up towards the floor surface.
  • the drawback of this solution is that the upper joint edge portion 18 above the tongue 10 will be far too weak.
  • the joint edge portion 18 can easily crack or be deformed.
  • FIGS. 5 a and 5 b illustrate the long side joint of three floorboards 1 , 1 ′ and 1 ′′ with the width W.
  • FIG. 5 a shows the floorboards where the RH is low, and FIG. 5 b shows them when the RH is high.
  • broad floorboards should preferably have wider joint gaps than narrow ones.
  • JO 2 should suitably be at least about 1% of the floor width W.
  • 100 mm wide floorboards will then have a smallest joint opening of at least 1 mm.
  • Corresponding joint openings in, for example, 200 mm wide planks should be at least 2 mm.
  • Other combinations can, of course, also be used especially in wooden floors where special requirements are made by different kinds of wood and different climatic conditions.
  • FIG. 6 a shows a wooden floor, which consists of several layers of wood.
  • the floorboard may comprise, for example, an upper layer of high-grade wood, such as oak, which constitutes the decorative surface layer 31 .
  • the core 30 may comprise, for example, plywood, which is made up of other kinds of wood or by corresponding kinds of wood but of a different quality. Alternatively the core may comprise or wood lamellae.
  • the upper layer 31 has as a rule a different fiber direction than a lower layer. In this embodiment, the overlapping joint edges 18 and 19 are made in the upper layer.
  • the advantage is that the visible joint opening JO 1 will comprise the same kind of wood and fiber direction as the surface layer 31 and the appearance will be identical with that of a homogeneous wooden floor.
  • FIGS. 6 b and 6 c illustrate an embodiment where there is a small play 22 between the overlapping joint edge portions 16 , 18 , which facilitate horizontal movement in the locking system.
  • FIG. 6 c shows joining by an angular motion and with the upper joint edge portions 18 , 19 in contact with each other.
  • the play 20 between the locking surface 15 of the locking element 8 and the locking groove 12 significantly facilitates joining by inward angling, especially in wooden floors that are not always straight.
  • the overlapping joint portion 18 is made in the tongue side, i.e., in the joint edge having a tongue 10 .
  • This overlapping joint portion 18 can also be made in the groove side, i.e., in the joint edge having a groove 9 .
  • FIGS. 6 d and 6 e illustrate such an embodiment. In FIG. 6 d , the boards are pressed together in their inner position, and in FIG. 6 e they are pulled out to their outer position.
  • FIGS. 7 a - 7 b illustrate that it is advantageous if the upper joint edge 18 , which overlaps the lower 16 , is located on the tongue side 4 a .
  • the groove side 4 b can then be joined by a vertical motion to a side 4 a , which has no tongue, according to FIG. 7 b .
  • Such a locking system is especially suitable on the short side.
  • FIG. 7 c shows such a locking system in the joined and pressed-together state.
  • FIGS. 7 d and 7 e illustrate how the horizontal locks, for instance in the form of a strip 6 and a locking element 8 and also an upper and lower joint portion 19 , 16 , can be made by merely one tool TO which has a horizontally operating tool shaft HT and which thus can form the entire joint edge.
  • Such a tool can be mounted, for example, on a circular saw, and a high quality joint system can be made by means of a guide bar.
  • the tool can also saw off the floorboard 1 .
  • only a partial dividing of the floorboard 1 is made at the outer portion 24 of the strip 6 .
  • the final dividing is made by the floorboard being broken off. This reduces the risk of the tool TO being damaged by contacting a subfloor of, for instance, concrete.
  • This technique can be used to produce a frame or frze FR in a floor, which, for instance, is installed in a herringbone pattern according to FIG. 5 c .
  • the tool can also be used to manufacture a locking system of a traditional type without overlapping joint edge portions.
  • FIGS. 8 a - 8 f illustrate different embodiments.
  • FIGS. 8 a - 8 c illustrate how the invention can be used in locking systems where the horizontal lock comprises a tongue 10 with a locking element 8 which cooperates with a locking groove 12 made in a groove 9 which is defined by an upper lip 23 and where the locking groove 12 is positioned in the upper lip 23 .
  • the groove also has a lower lip 24 which can be removed to allow joining by a vertical motion.
  • FIG. 8 d shows a locking system with a separate strip 6 , which is made, for instance, of aluminum sheet.
  • FIG. 8 e illustrates a locking system that has a separate strip 6 which can be made of a fiberboard-based material or of plastic, metal and like materials.
  • FIG. 8 f shows a locking system, which can be joined by horizontal snap action.
  • the tongue 10 has a groove 9 ′ which allows its upper and lower part with the locking elements 8 , 8 ′ to bend towards each other in connection with horizontally displacement of the joint edges 4 a and 4 b towards each other.
  • the upper and lower lip 23 , 24 in the groove 9 need not be resilient.
  • the invention can also be used in conventional snap systems where the lips 23 , 24 can be resilient.
  • FIGS. 9 a - 9 d illustrate alternative embodiments of the invention.
  • FIGS. 9 a - 9 d illustrate alternative embodiments of the invention.
  • FIG. 9 a the inner position of the outer part of the locking element 8 and the locking groove 10 is determined.
  • FIG. 9 b the outer part of the tongue 10 and the groove 9 cooperate.
  • FIG. 9 c the front and lower part of the tongue 10 cooperates with the groove 9 .
  • a locking element 10 ′ on the lower part of the tongue 10 cooperates with a locking element 9 ′ on the strip 6 . It is obvious that several other parts in the locking system can be used according to these principles in order to define the inner position of the floorboards.
  • FIG. 10 a shows production equipments and production methods according to the invention.
  • the end tenor ET has a chain 40 and a belt 41 which displace the floorboard 1 in a feeding direction FD relative a tool set, which in this embodiment has five tools 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 and 55 and pressure shoes 42 .
  • the end tenor could also have two chins and two belts.
  • FIG. 10 b is an enlargement of the first tooling station.
  • the first tool 51 in the tool set makes a guiding surface 12 which in this embodiment is a groove and which is mainly formed as the locking groove 12 of the locking system. Of course other groves could be formed preferably in that part of the floorboard where the mechanical locking system will be formed.
  • the pressure shoe 42 ′ has a guiding device 43 ′which cooperates with the groove 12 and prevents deviations from the feeding direction FD and in a plane parallel to the horizontal plane.
  • FIG. 10 c shows the end tenor seen from the feeding direction when the floorboard has passed the first tool 51 .
  • the locking groove 12 is used as a guiding surface for the guiding device 43 , which is attached to the pressing shoe 42 .
  • the FIG. 10 d shows that the same groove 12 could be used as a guiding surface in all tool stations.
  • FIG. 10 d shows how the tongue could be formed with a tool 54 . The machining of a particular part of the floorboard 1 can take place when this part, at the same time, is guided by the guiding device 43 .
  • FIG. 10 c shows the end tenor seen from the feeding direction when the floorboard has passed the first tool 51 .
  • the locking groove 12 is used as a guiding surface for the guiding device 43 , which is attached to the pressing shoe 42 .
  • FIG. 11 a shows another embodiment where the guiding device is attached inside the pressure shoe.
  • the disadvantage is that the board will have a grove in the rear side.
  • FIG. 11 b shows another embodiment where one or both outer edges of the floorboard are used as a guiding surface for the guiding device 43 , 43 ′.
  • the end tenor has in this embodiment support units 44 , 44 ′ which cooperate with the pressure shoes 42 , 42 ′.
  • the guiding device could alternatively be attached to this support units 44 , 44 ′.
  • FIG. 11 c and 11 d shows how a floorboard could be produced in two steps.
  • the tongue side 10 is formed in step one.
  • the same guiding groove 12 is used in step 2 ( FIG. 11 d ) when the groove side 9 is formed.
  • Such an end tenor will be very flexible.
  • the advantage is that floorboards of different widths, smaller or larger than the chain width, could be produced.
  • FIGS. 12 a - 12 c show a preferred embodiment which guaranties that a semi-floating floor will be installed in the normal position which preferably is a position where the actual joint gap is about 50% of the maximum joint gap. If for instance all floorboards are installed with edges 16 , 17 in contact, problems may occur around the walls when the floorboards swell to their maximum size.
  • the locking element and the locking groove could be formed in such a way that the floorboards are automatically guided in the optimal position during installation.
  • FIG. 12 c shows that the locking element 8 in this embodiment has a locking surface with a high locking angle LA close to 90 degree to the horizontal plane.
  • This locking angle LA is higher than the angle of the tangent line TL to the circle C, which has a center at the upper joint edges.
  • FIG. 12 b shows that such a joint geometry will during angling push the floorboard 4 a towards the floorboard 4 b and bring it into the above-mentioned preferred position with a play between the locking element 8 and the locking groove 12 and a joint gap between the top edges 16 , 17 .

Abstract

Floorboards with a mechanical locking system that allows movement between the floorboards when they are joined to form a floating floor.

Description

    CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
  • The present application claims priority of Swedish Patent Application No. 0400068-3, filed in Sweden on Jan. 13, 2004 and U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/537,891, filed in the United States on Jan. 22, 2004, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
  • FIELD OF THE INVENTION
  • The invention relates generally to the technical field of locking systems for floorboards. The invention concerns on the one hand a locking system for floorboards which can be joined mechanically and, on the other hand, floorboards and floor systems provided with such a locking system and a production method to produce such floorboards.
  • The present invention is particularly suited for use in floating wooden floors and laminate floors, such as massive wooden floors, parquet floors, floors with a surface of veneer, laminate floors with a surface layer of high pressure laminate or direct laminate and the like.
  • The following description of prior-art technique, problems of known systems as well as objects and features of the invention will therefore as non-limiting examples be aimed mainly at this field of application. However, it should be emphasized that the invention can be used in any floorboards, which are intended to be joined in different patterns by means of a mechanical locking system. The invention may thus also be applicable to floors which are glued or nailed to the sub floor or floors with a core and with a surface of plastic, linoleum, cork, varnished fiberboard surface and the like.
  • DEFINITION OF SOME TERMS
  • In the following text, the visible surface of the installed floorboard is called “front side”, while the opposite side of the floorboard facing the subfloor is called “rear side”. By “floor surface” is meant the major outer flat part of the floorboard, which is opposite to the rear side and which is located in one single plane. Bevels, grooves and similar decorative features are parts of the front side but they are not parts of the floor surface. By “laminate floor” is meant a floor having a surface, which consists of melamine impregnated paper, which has been compressed under pressure and heat. “Horizontal plane” relates to a plane, which is extended parallel to the outer part of the floor surface. “Vertical plane” relates to a plane perpendicular to the horizontal plane.
  • The outer parts of the floorboard at the edge of the floorboard between the front side and the rear side are called “joint edge”. By “joint edge portion” is meant a part of the joint edge of the floorboard. By “joint” or “locking system” are meant cooperating connecting means, which interconnect the floorboards vertically and/or horizontally. By “mechanical locking system” is meant that joining can take place without glue. Mechanical locking systems can in many cases also be joined by glue. By “vertical locking” is meant locking parallel to the vertical plane. As a rule, vertical locking consists of a tongue, which cooperates with a tongue groove. By “horizontal locking” is meant locking parallel to the horizontal plane. By “joint opening” is meant a groove which is defined by two joint edges of two joined floorboards and which is open to the front side. By “joint gap” is meant the minimum distance between two joint edge portions of two joined floorboards within an area, which is defined by the front side and the upper part of the tongue next to the front side. By “open joint gap” is meant a joint gap, which is open towards the front side. By “visible joint gap” is meant a joint gap, which is visible to the naked eye from the front side for a person walking on the floor, or a joint gap, which is larger than the general requirements on joint gaps established by the industry for various floor types. With “continuous floating floor surface” is meant a floor surface, which is installed in one piece without expansion joints.
  • BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
  • Traditional laminate and parquet floors are usually installed floating on an existing subfloor. The joint edges of the floorboards are joined to form a floor surface, and the entire floor surface can move relative to the subfloor. As the floorboards shrink or swell in connection with the relative humidity RH varying during the year, the entire floor surface will change in shape.
  • Floating floors of this kind are usually joined by means of glued tongue and groove joints. In laying, the boards are brought together horizontally, a projecting tongue along the joint edge of one board being inserted into a tongue groove along the joint edge of an adjoining board. The tongue and groove joint positions and locks the floorboards vertically and the glue locks the boards horizontally. The same method is used on both long side and short side, and the boards are usually laid in parallel rows long side against long side and short side against short side.
  • In addition to such traditional floating floors, which are joined by means of glued tongue and groove joints, floorboards have been developed in recent years, which do not require the use of glue but which are instead joined mechanically by means of so-called mechanical locking systems. These systems comprise locking means, which lock the boards mechanically horizontally and vertically without glue. The vertical locking means are generally formed as a tongue, which cooperates with a tongue grove. The horizontal locking means comprising a locking element, which cooperates with a locking groove. The locking element could be formed on a strip extending from the lower part of the tongue groove or it could be formed on the tongue. The mechanical locking systems can be formed by machining the core of the board. Alternatively, parts of the locking system such as the tongue and/or the strip can be made of a separate material, which is integrated with the floorboard, i.e., already joined with the floorboard in connection with the manufacture thereof at the factory.
  • The floorboards can be joined mechanically by various combinations of angling, snapping-in, vertical change of position such as the so-called vertical folding and insertion along the joint edge. All of these installation methods, except vertical folding, require that one side of the floorboard, the long or short side, could be displaced in locked position. A lot of locking systems on the market are produced with a small play between the locking element and the locking grove in order to facilitate displacement. The intention is to produce floorboards, which are possible to displace, and which at the same time are connected to each other with a fit, which is as tight as possible. A very small displacement play of for instance 0.01-0.05 mm is often sufficient to reduce the friction between wood fibers considerably. According to The European Standard EN 13329 for laminate floorings joint openings between floorboards should be on an average ≦0.15 mm and the maximum level in a floor should be ≦0.20 mm. The aim of all producers of floating floors is to reduce the joint openings as much as possible. Some floors are even produced with a pre-tension where the strip with the locking element in locked position is bended backwards towards the sub floor and where the locking element and the locking groove press the panels tightly against each other. Such a floor is difficult to install.
  • Wooden and laminate floors are also joined by gluing or nailing to the subfloor. Such gluing/nailing counteracts movements due to moisture and keeps the floorboards joined. The movement of the floorboards occurs about a center in each floorboard. Swelling and shrinking can occur by merely the respective floorboards, and thus not the entire floor surface, changing in shape.
  • Floorboards that are joined by gluing/nailing to the subfloor do not require any locking systems at all. However, they can have traditional tongue and groove joints, which facilitate vertical positioning. They can also have mechanical locking systems, which lock and position the floorboards vertically and/or horizontally in connection with laying.
  • RELATED ART
  • The advantage of floating flooring is that a change in shape due to different degrees of relative humidity RH can occur concealed under baseboards and the floorboards can, although they swell and shrink, be joined without visible joint gaps. Installation can, especially by using mechanical locking systems, take place quickly and easily and the floor can be taken up and be laid once more in a different place. The drawback is that the continuous floor surface must as a rule be limited even in the cases where the floor consists of relatively dimensionally stable floorboards, such as laminate floor with a fiberboard core or wooden floors composed of several layers with different fiber directions. The reason is that such dimensionally stable floors as a rule have a change in dimension, which is about 0.1% corresponding to about 1 mm per meter when the RH varies between 25% in winter and 85% in summer. Such a floor will, for example, over a distance of ten meters shrink and swell about 10 mm. A large floor surface must be divided into smaller surfaces with expansion strips, for example, every tenth or fifteenth meter. Without such a division, it is a risk that the floor when shrinking will change in shape so that it will no longer be covered by baseboards. Also the load on the locking system will be great since great loads must be transferred when a large continuous surface is moving. The load will be particularly great in passages between different rooms.
  • According to the code of practice established by the European Producers of Laminate Flooring (EPLF), expansion joint profiles should be installed on surfaces greater than 12 m in the direction of the length of the individual flooring planks and on surfaces greater than 8 m in the width direction. Such profiles should also be installed in doorways between rooms. Similar installation guidelines are used by producers of floating floors with a surface of wood. Expansion joint profiles are generally aluminum or plastic section fixed on the floor surface between two separate floor units. They collect dirt, give an unwanted appearance and are rather expensive. Due to these limitations on maximum floor surfaces, laminate floorings have only reached a small market share in commercial applications such as hotels, airports, and large shopping areas.
  • Unstable floors, such as homogenous wooden floors, may exhibit still greater changes in shape. The factors that above all affect the change in shape of homogenous wooden floors are fiber direction and kind of wood. A homogenous oak floor is very stable along the fiber direction, i.e., in the longitudinal direction of the floorboard. In the transverse direction, the movement can be 3% corresponding to 30 mm per meter or more as the RH varies during the year. Other kinds of wood exhibit still greater changes in shape. Floorboards exhibiting great changes in shape can as a rule not be installed floating. Even if such an installation would be possible, the continuous floor surface must be restricted significantly.
  • The advantage of gluing/nailing to the subfloor is that large continuous floor surfaces can be provided without expansion joint profiles and the floor can take up great loads. A further advantage is that the floorboards do not require any vertical and horizontal locking systems, and they can be installed in advanced patterns with, for example, long sides joined to short sides. This method of installation involving attachment to the subfloor has, however, a number of considerable drawbacks. The main drawback is that as the floorboards shrink, a visible joint gap arises between the boards. The joint gap can be relatively large, especially when the floorboards are made of moisture sensitive wood materials. Homogenous wooden floors that are nailed to a subfloor can have joint gaps of 3-5 mm. The distance between the boards can be irregularly distributed with several small and some large gaps, and these gaps are not always parallel. Thus, the joint gap can vary over the length of the floorboard. The large joint gaps contain a great deal of dirt, which penetrates down to the tongue and prevents the floorboards from taking their original position in swelling. The installation methods are time-consuming, and in many cases the subfloor must be adjusted to allow gluing/nailing to the subfloor.
  • It would therefore be a great advantage if it were possible to provide a floating floor without the above drawbacks, in particular a floating floor which
      • a) May comprise a large continuous surface without expansion joint profiles,
      • b) May comprise moisture sensitive floorboards, which exhibit great dimensional changes as the RH varies during the year.
    SUMMARY
  • The present invention relates to locking systems, floorboards and floors which make it possible to install floating floors in large continuous surfaces and with floorboards that exhibit great dimensional changes as the relative humidity (RH) changes. The invention also relates to production methods and production equipment to produce such floors.
  • A first object of the present invention is to provide a floating floor of rectangular floorboards with mechanical locking systems, in which floor the size, pattern of laying and locking system of the floorboards cooperate and allow movements between the floorboards. According to an embodiment of the invention, the individual floorboards can change in shape after installation, i.e., shrink and swell due to changes in the relative humidity. This can occur in such a manner that the change in shape of the entire floor surface can be reduced or preferably be eliminated while at the same time the floorboards remain locked to each other without large visible joint gaps.
  • A second object is to provide locking systems, which allow a considerable movement between floorboards without large and deep dirt-collecting joint gaps and/or where open joint gaps could be excluded. Such locking systems are particularly suited for moisture sensitive materials, such as wood, but also when large floating floors are installed using wide and/or long floorboards.
  • The terms long side and short side are used in the description to facilitate understanding. The boards can according to the invention also be square or alternately square and rectangular, and optionally also exhibit different patterns and angles between opposite sides.
  • It should be particularly emphasized that the combinations of floorboards, locking systems and laying patterns that appear in this description are only examples of suitable embodiments. A large number of alternatives are conceivable. All the embodiments that are suitable for the first object of the invention can be combined with the embodiments that describe the second object of the invention. All locking systems can be used separately in long sides and/or short sides and also in various combinations on long sides and short sides. The locking systems having horizontal and vertical locking means can be joined by angling and/or snapping-in. The geometries of the locking systems and the active horizontal and vertical locking means can be formed by machining the edges of the floorboard or by separate materials being formed or alternatively machined before or after joining to the joint edge portion of the floorboard.
  • According to a first embodiment, a floating floor comprises rectangular floorboards, which are joined by a mechanical locking system. The joined floorboards have a horizontal plane, which is parallel to the floor surface, and a vertical plane, which is perpendicular to the horizontal plane. The locking system has mechanically cooperating locks for vertical joining parallel to the vertical plane and for horizontal joining parallel to the horizontal plane of a first and a second joint edge. The vertical locks comprise a tongue, which cooperates with a groove, and the horizontal locks comprise a locking element with a locking surface cooperating with a locking groove. The format, installation pattern and locking system of the floorboards are designed in such a manner that a floor surface of 1*1 meter can change in shape in at least one direction at least 1 mm when the floorboards are pressed together or pulled apart. This change in shape can occur without visible joint gaps.
  • According to a second embodiment, a locking system is provided for mechanical joining of floorboards, in which locking system the joined floorboards have a horizontal plane which is parallel to the floor surface and a vertical plane which is perpendicular to the horizontal plane. The locking system has mechanically cooperating locks for vertical joining parallel to the vertical plane and for horizontal joining parallel to the horizontal plane of a first and a second joint edge. The vertical locks comprise a tongue, which cooperates with a groove and the horizontal of a locking element with a locking surface, which cooperates with a locking groove. The first and the second joint edge have upper and lower joint edge portions located between the tongue and the floor surface. The upper joint edge portions are closer to the floor surface than the lower. When the floorboards are joined and pressed against each other, the two upper joint edge portions are spaced from each other and one of the upper joint edge portions in the first joint edge overlaps a lower joint edge portion in the second joint edge.
  • According to several preferred embodiments of this invention, it is an advantage if the floor comprises rather small floorboards and many joints, which could compensate swelling and shrinking. The production tolerances should be rather small since well-defined plays and joint openings are generally required to produce a high quality floor according to the invention.
  • Small floorboards are however difficult to produce with the required tolerance since they have a tendency to turn in an uncontrolled manner during machining. The main reason why small floorboards are more difficult to produce than large floorboards is that large floorboard has a much large area, which is in contact with a chain and a belt during the machining of the edges of the floorboards. This large contact area keeps the floorboards fixed by the belt to the chain in such a way that they cannot move or turn in relation to the feeding direction, which may be the case when the contact area is small.
  • Production of floorboards is essentially carried out in such manner that a set of tools and a floorboard blank are displaced relative to each other. A set of tools comprises preferably one or more milling tools which are arranged and dimensioned to machine a locking system in a manner known to those skilled in the art.
  • The most used equipment is an end tenor, double or single, where a chain and a belt are used to move the floorboard with great accuracy along a well defined feeding direction. Pressure shoes and support unites are used in many applications together with the chain and the belt mainly to prevent vertical deviations. Horizontal deviation of the floorboard is only prevented by the chain and the belt.
  • The problem is that in many applications this is not sufficient, especially when panels are small.
  • A third object of the present invention is to provide equipment and production methods which make it possible to produce floorboards and mechanical locking systems with an end tenor but with better precision than what is possible to accomplish with known technology.
  • Equipment for production of building panels, especially floorboards, comprises a chain, a belt, a pressure shoe and a tool set. The chain and the belt are arranged to displace the floorboard relative the tool set and the pressure shoe, in a feeding direction. The pressure shoe is arranged to press towards the rear side of the floorboard. The tool set is arranged to form an edge portion of the floorboard when the floorboard is displaced relative the tool set. One of the tools of the tool set forms a guiding surface in the floorboard. The pressure shoe has a guiding device, which cooperates with the guiding surface and prevents deviations in a direction perpendicular to the feeding direction and parallel to the rear side of the floorboard.
  • It is known that a grove could be formed on the rear side of a floorboard and that a ruler could be inserted into the groove to guide the floorboards when they are displaced by a belt that moves the boards on a table. It is not known that special guiding surfaces and guiding devices could be used in an end tenor where a pressure shoe cooperates with a chain.
  • A fourth object of the present invention is to provide a large semi-floating floor of rectangular floorboards with mechanical locking systems, in which floor the format, installation pattern and locking system of the floorboards are designed in such a manner that a large semi-floating continuous surface, with length or width exceeding 12 m, could be installed without expansion joints.
  • BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
  • FIGS. 1 a-1 b show floorboards with locking system.
  • FIGS. 2 a-2 f show locking systems and laying patterns.
  • FIGS. 3 a-3 e show locking systems.
  • FIGS. 4 a-4 c show locking systems.
  • FIGS. 5 a-5 d show joined floorboards and testing methods.
  • FIGS. 6 a-6 e show locking systems.
  • FIGS. 7 a-7 e show locking systems.
  • FIGS. 8 a-8 f show locking systems.
  • FIGS. 9 a-9 d show locking systems.
  • FIGS. 10 a-10 d show production equipment
  • FIGS. 11 a-11 d show production equipment
  • FIGS. 12 a-12 c show locking system.
  • DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
  • FIGS. 1 a and 1 b illustrate floorboards which are of a first type A and a second type B according to the invention and whose long sides 4 a and 4 b in this embodiment have a length which is 3 times the length of the short sides 5 a, 5 b. The long sides 4 a, 4 b of the floorboards have vertical and horizontal connectors, and the short sides 5 a, 5 b of the floorboards have horizontal connectors. In this embodiment, the two types are identical except that the location of the locks is mirror-inverted. The locks allow joining of long side 4 a to long side 4 b by at least inward angling and long side 4 a to short side 5 a by inward angling, and also short side 5 b to long side 4 b by a vertical motion. Joining of both long sides 4 a, 4 b and short sides 5 a, 5 b in a herringbone pattern or in parallel rows can in this embodiment take place merely by an angular motion along the long sides 4 a, 4 b. The long sides 4 a, 4 b of the floorboards have connectors, which in this embodiment comprising a strip 6, a tongue groove 9 and a tongue 10. The short sides 5 a also have a strip 6 and a tongue groove 9 whereas the short sides 5 b have no tongue 10. There may be a plurality of variants. The two types of floorboards need not be of the same format and the locking means can also have different shapes, provided that as stated above they can be joined long side against short side. The connectors can be made of the same material, or of different materials, or be made of the same material but with different material properties. For instance, the connectors can be made of plastic or metal. They can also be made of the same material as the floorboard, but be subjected to a treatment modifying their properties, such as impregnation or the like. The short sides 5 b can have a tongue and the floorboards can then be joined in prior-art manner in a diamond pattern by different combinations of angular motion and snap motions. Short sides could also have a separate flexible tongue, which during locking could be displaced horizontally.
  • FIG. 2 a shows the connectors of two floorboards 1, 1′ that are joined to each other. In this embodiment, the floorboards have a surface layer 31 of laminate, a core 30 of, for instance, HDF, which is softer and more compressible than the surface layer 31, and a balancing layer 32. The vertical locking D1 comprises a tongue groove 9, which cooperates with a tongue 10. The horizontal locking D2 comprises a strip 6 with a locking element 8, which cooperates with a locking groove 12. This locking system can be joined by inward angling along upper joint edges. It could also be modified in such a way that it could be locked by horizontal snapping. The locking element 8 and the locking groove 12 have cooperating locking surfaces 15, 14. The floorboards can, when joined and pressed against each other in the horizontal direction D2, assume a position where there is a play 20 between the locking surfaces 14, 15. FIG. 2 b show that when the floorboards are pulled apart in the opposite direction, and when the locking surfaces 14, 15 are in complete contact and pressed against each other, a joint gap 21 arises in the front side between the upper joint edges. The play between the locking surfaces 14, 15 are defined as equal to the displacement of the upper joint edges when these edges are pressed together and pulled apart as described above. This play in the locking system is the maximum floor movement that takes place when the floorboards are pressed together and pulled apart with a pressure and pulling force adapted to the strength of the edge portions and the locking system. Floorboards with hard surface layers or edges, which when pressed together are only compressed marginally, will according to this definition have a play, which is essentially equal or slightly larger than the join gap. Floorboards with softer edges will have a play which is considerable larger than the joint gap. According to this definition, the play is always larger or equal to the joint gap. The play and joint gap can be, for example, 0.05-0.10 mm. Joint gaps, which are about 0.1 mm, are considered acceptable. They are difficult to see and normal dirt particles are too big to penetrate into the locking system through such small joint gaps. In some applications joint gaps up to 0.20 mm, with a play of for example 0.25 mm could be accepted, especially if play and joint gaps are measured when a considerable pressure and pulling force is used. This maximum joint gap will occur in extreme conditions only when the humidity is very low, for example below 20% and when the load on the floor is very high. In normal condition and applications the joint gap in such a floor could be 0.10 mm or less.
  • FIG. 2 b shows an ordinary laminate floor with floorboards in the size of 1.2*0.2 m, which are installed in parallel rows. Such a laminate floor shrinks and swells about 1 mm per meter. If the locking system has a play of about 0.1 mm, the five joints in the transverse direction D2 B will allow swelling and shrinking of 5*0.1=0.5 mm per meter. This compensates for only half the maximum swelling or shrinking of 1 mm. In the longitudinal direction D2 A, there is only one joint per 1.2 m, which allows a movement of 0.1 mm. The play 20 and the joint gap 21 in the locking system thus contribute only marginally to reduce shrinking and swelling of the floor in the direction D2 parallel to the long sides. To reduce the movement of the floor to half of the movement that usually occurs in a floor without play 20 and joint gap 21, it is necessary to increase the play 20 to 0.6 mm, and this results in too big a joint gap 21 on the short side.
  • FIG. 2 c shows floorboards with, for instance, a core 30 of fiberboard, such as HDF, and a surface layer of laminate or veneer, which has a maximum dimensional change of about 0.1%, i.e., 1 mm per meter. The floorboards are installed in parallel rows. In this embodiment, they are narrow and short with a size of, for example, 0.5*0.08 m. If the play is 0.1 mm, 12 floorboards with their 12 joints over a floor length of one meter will allow a movement in the transverse direction D2 B of 1.2 mm, which is more than the maximum dimensional change of the floor. Thus the entire movement may occur by the floorboards moving relative to each other, and the outer dimensions of the floor can be unchanged. In the longitudinal direction D2 A, the two short side joints can only compensate for a movement of 0.2 mm per meter. In a room which is, for example, 10 m wide and 40 m long, installation can suitably occur, contrary to the present recommended installation principles, with the long sides of the floorboards parallel to the width direction of the room and perpendicular to the length direction thereof. According to this preferred embodiment, a large continuous floating floor surface without large visible joint gaps can thus be provided with narrow floorboards which have a locking system with play and which are joined in parallel rows perpendicular to the length direction of the floor surface. The locking system, the floorboards and the installation pattern should thus be adjusted so that a floor surface of 1*1 m can expand and be pressed together about 1 mm or more in at least one direction without damaging the locking system or the floorboards. A mechanical locking system in a floating floor which is installed in home settings should have a mechanical locking system that withstands tensile load and compression corresponding to at least 200 kg per meter of floor length. More specifically, it should preferably be possible to achieve the above change in shape without visible joint gaps when the floor surface above is subjected to a compressive or tensile load of 200 kg in any direction and when the floorboards are conditioned in normal relative humidity of about 45%.
  • The strength of a mechanical locking system is of great importance in large continuous floating floor surfaces. Such large continuous surfaces are defined as a floor surface with length and/or width exceeding 12 m. Very large continuous surfaces are defined as floor surfaces with length and/or width exceeding 20 m. There is a risk that unacceptable joint gaps will occur or that the floorboards will slide apart, if the mechanical locking system is not sufficiently strong in a large floating floor. Dimensionally stable floorboards, such as laminate floors, which show average joint gaps exceeding 0.2 mm, when a tensile load of 200 kg/m is applied, are generally not suitable to use in a large high quality floating floor. The invention could be used to install continuous floating floors with a length and/or width exceeding 20 m or even 40 m. In principle there are no limitations. Continuous floating floors with a surface of 10,000 m2 or more could be installed according to invention.
  • Such new types of floating floors where the major part of the floating movement, in at least one direction, takes place between the floorboards and in the mechanical locking system are hereafter referred to as Semi-floating Floors.
  • FIG. 5 d illustrates a suitable testing method in order to ensure that the floorboards are sufficiently mobile in the joined state and that the locking system is strong enough to be used in a large continuous floating floor surface where the floor is a Semi Floating Floor. In this example, 9 samples with 10 joints and with a length L of 100 mm (10% of 1 meter) have been joined along their respective long sides so as to correspond to a floor length TL of about 1 meter. The amount of joints, in this example, 10 joints, is referred to as Nj. The boards are subjected to compressive and tensile load using a force F corresponding to 20 kg (200 N), which is 10% of 200 kg. The change in length of the floor length TL, hereafter referred to as ΔTL, should be measured. The average play, hereafter referred to as AP or floor movement per joint is defined as AP=ΔTL/Nj. If for example ΔTL=1.5 mm, than the average play AP=1.5/10=0.15 mm. This testing method will also measure dimensional changes of the floorboard. Such dimensional changes are in most floorboards extremely small compared to the play. As mentioned before, due to compression of top edges and eventually some very small dimensional changes of the floor board itself, the average joint gap will always be smaller than the average play AP. This means that in order to make sure that the floor movement is sufficient (ΔTL) and that the average joint gaps 21 do not exceed the stipulated maximum levels, only ΔTL has to be measured and controlled, since ΔTL/Nj is always larger or equal to the average joint gap 21. The size of the actual average joint gap 21 in the floor, when the tensile force F is applied, could however be measured directly for example with a set of thickness gauges or a microscope and the actual average joint gap=AAJG could be calculated. The difference between AP and MJG is defined as floorboard flexibility=FF (FF=AP−AAJG). In a laminate floor ΔTL should preferably exceed 1 mm. Lower or higher force F could be used to design floorboards, installation patterns and locking systems which could be used as Semi Floating Floors. In some applications for example in home environment with normal moisture conditions a force F of 100 kg (1000 N) per meter could be sufficient. In very large floating floors a force F of 250-300 kg or more could be used. Mechanical locking systems could be designed with a locking force of 1000 kg or more. The joint gap in such locking systems could be limited to 0.2 mm even when a force F of 400-500 kg is applied. The pushback effect caused by the locking element 8, the locking surfaces 15, 14 and the locking strip 6 could be measured by increasing and decreasing the force F in steps of for example 100 kg. The pushback effect is high If ΔTL is essentially the same when F is increased from 0 to 100 kg (=ΔTL1) as when F is increased from 0 to 200 kg and than decreased back to 100 kg (=ΔTL2). A mechanical locking system with a high pushback effect is an advantage in a semi-floating floor. Preferably ΔTL1 should be at least 75% of ΔTL2. In some applications even 50% could be sufficient.
  • FIG. 2 d shows floorboards according to FIG. 2 c which are installed in a diamond pattern. This method of installation results in 7 joints per running meter in both directions D2 A and D2 B of the floor. A play of 0.14 mm can then completely eliminate a swelling and shrinking of 0.1% since 7 joints result in a total mobility of 7*0.14=1.0 mm.
  • FIG. 2 e shows floor surface of one square meter which consists of the above-described floorboards installed in a herringbone pattern long side against short side and shows the position of the floorboards when, for instance, in summer they have swelled to their maximum dimension. FIG. 2 f shows the position of the floorboards when, for instance, in winter, they have shrunk. The locking system with the inherent play then results in a joint gap 21 between all joint edges of the floorboards. Since the floorboards are installed in a herringbone pattern, the play of the long sides will help to reduce the dimensional changes of the floor in all directions. FIG. 2 f also shows that the critical direction is the diagonal directions D2 C and D2 D of the floor where 7 joint gaps must be adjusted so as to withstand a shrinkage over a distance of 1.4 m. This can be used to determine the optimal direction of laying in a large floor. In this example, a joint gap of 0.2 mm will completely eliminate the movement of the floor in all directions. This allows the outer portions of a floating floor to be attached to the subfloor, for example, by gluing, which prevents the floor, when shrinking, to be moved outside the baseboards. The invention also allows partition walls to be attached to an installed floating floor, which can reduce the installation time.
  • Practical experiments demonstrate that a floor with a surface of veneer or laminate and with a core of a fiberboard-based panel, for instance a dimensionally stable high quality HDF, can be manufactured so as to be highly dimensionally stable and have a maximum dimensional change in home settings of about 0.5-1.0 mm per meter. Such semi-floating floors can be installed in spaces of unlimited size, and the maximum play can be limited to about 0.1 mm also in the cases where the floorboards have a width of preferably about 120 mm. It goes without saying that still smaller floorboards, for instance 0.4*0.06 m, are still more favorable and can manage large surfaces also when they are made of materials that are less stable in shape. According to a first embodiment, a new type of semi-floating floor where the individual floorboards are capable of moving and where the outer dimensions of the floor need not be changed. This can be achieved by optimal utilization of the size of the boards, the mobility of the locking system using a small play and a small joint gap, and the installation pattern of the floorboards. A suitable combination of play, joint gap, size of the floorboard, installation pattern and direction of laying of the floorboards can thus be used in order to wholly or partly eliminate movements in a floating floor. Much larger continuous floating floors can be installed than is possible today, and the maximum movement of the floor can be reduced to the about 10 mm that apply to current technology, or be completely eliminated. All this can occur with a joint gap which in practice is not visible and which is not different, regarding moisture and dirt penetration, from traditional 0.2 m wide floating floorboards which are joined in parallel rows by pretension or with a very small displacement play which does not give sufficient mobility. As a non-limiting example, it can be mentioned that the play 20 and the joint gap 21 in dimensionally stable floors should preferably be about 0.1-0.2 mm.
  • An especially preferred embodiment according to the invention is a semi-floating floor with the following characteristics: The surface layer is laminate or wood veneer, the core of the floorboard is a wood based board such as MDF or HDF, the change in floor length ΔTL is at least 1,0 mm when a force F of 100 kg/m is used, the change in floor length ΔTL is at least 1.5 mm when a force F of 200 kg/m is used, average joint gaps do not exceed 0.15 mm when the force F is 100 kg/m and they do not exceed 0.20 mm when the force F is 200 kg/m.
  • The function and joint quality of such semi-floating floorboards will be similar to traditional floating floorboards when humidity conditions are normal and the size of the floor surface is within the generally recommended limits. In extreme climate conditions or when installed in a much larger continuous floor surface, such semi-floating floorboard will be superior to the traditional floorboards. Other combinations of force F, change in floor length ΔTL and joint gap 21 could be used in order to design a semi-floating floor for various application.
  • FIG. 3 a shows a second embodiment, which can be used to counteract the problems caused by movements due to moisture in floating floors. In this embodiment, the floorboard has a surface 31 of direct laminate and a core of HDF. Under the laminate surface, there is a layer 33, which consists of melamine impregnated wood fibers. This layer forms, when the surface layer is laminated to HDF and when melamine penetrates into the core and joins the surface layer to the HDF core. The HDF core 30 is softer and more compressible than the laminate surface 31 and the melamine layer 33. According to the invention, the surface layer 31 of laminate and, where appropriate, also parts of, or the entire, melamine layer 33 under the surface layer can be removed so that a decorative groove 133 forms in the shape of a shallow joint opening JO 1. This joint opening resembles a large joint gap in homogeneous wooden floors. The groove 133 can be made on one joint edge only, and it can be colored, coated or impregnated in such a manner that the joint gap becomes less visible. Such decorative grooves or joint openings can have, for example, a width JO 1 of, for example, 1-3 mm and a depth of 0.2-0.5 mm. In some application the width of JO 1 could preferably be rather small about 0.5-1.0 mm When the floorboards 1, 1′ are pressed towards each other, the upper joint edges 16, 17 can be compressed. Such compression can be 0.1 mm in HDF. Such a possibility of compression can replace the above-mentioned play and can allow a movement without a joint gap. Chemical processing as mentioned above can also change the properties of the joint edge portion and help to improve the possibilities of compression. Of course, the first and second embodiment can be combined. With a play of 0.1 mm and a possibility of compression of 0.1 mm, a total movement of 0.2 mm can be provided with a visible joint gap of 0.1 mm only. Compression can also be used between the active locking surfaces 15, 14 in the locking element 8 and in the locking groove 12. In normal climatic conditions the separation of the floorboards is prevented when the locking surfaces 14, 15 are in contact with each other and no substantial compression occurs. When subjected to additional tensile load in extreme climatic conditions, for instance when the RH falls below 25%, the locking surfaces will be compressed. This compression is facilitated if the contact surface CS of the locking surfaces 14, 15 are small. It is advantageous if this contact surface CS in normal floor thicknesses 8-15 mm is about 1 mm or less. With this technique, floorboards can be manufactured with a play and joint gap of about 0.1 mm. In extreme climatic conditions, when the RH falls below 25% and exceeds 80%, compression of upper joint edges and locking surfaces can allow a movement of for instance 0.3 mm. The above technique can be applied to many different types of floors, for instance floors with a surface of high pressure laminate, wood, veneer and plastic and like materials. The technique is particularly suitable in floorboards where it is possible to increase the compression of the upper joint edges by removing part of the upper joint edge portion 16 and/or 17.
  • FIG. 3 b illustrates a third embodiment. FIGS. 3 c and 3 d are enlargements of the joint edges in FIG. 3 b. The floorboard 1′ has, in an area in the joint edge which is defined by the upper parts of the tongue 10 and the groove 9 and the floor surface 31, an upper joint edge portion 18 and a lower joint edge portion 17, and the floorboard 1 has in a corresponding area an upper joint edge portion 19 and a lower joint edge portion 16. When the floorboards 1, 1′ are pressed together, the lower joint edge portions 16, 17 will come into contact with each other. This is shown in FIG. 3 d. The upper joint edge portions 18, 19 are spaced from each other, and one upper joint edge portion 18 of one floorboard 1′ overlaps the lower joint edge portion 16 of the other floorboard 1. In this pressed-together position, the locking system has a play 20 of for instance 0.2 mm between the locking surfaces 14, 15. If the overlap in this pressed-together position is 0.2 mm, the boards can, when being pulled apart, separate from each other 0.2 mm without a visible joint gap being seen from the surface. This embodiment will not have an open joint gap because the joint gap will be covered by the overlapping joint edge portion 18. This is shown in FIG. 3 c. It is an advantage if the locking element 8 and the locking grove 12 are such that the possible separation i.e. e. the play is slightly smaller then the overlapping. Preferably a small overlapping, for example 0.05 mm should exist in the joint even when the floorboards are pulled apart and a pulling force F is applied to the joint. This overlapping will prevent moisture to penetrate into the joint. The joint edges will be stronger since the lower edge portion 16 will support the upper edge portion 18. The decorative groove 133 can be made very shallow and all dirt collecting in the groove can easily be removed by a vacuum cleaner in connection with normal cleaning. No dirt or moisture can penetrate into the locking system and down to the tongue 12. This technique involving overlapping joint edge portions can, of course, be combined with the two other embodiments on the same side or on long and short sides. The long side could for instance have a locking system according to the first embodiment and the short side according to the second. For example, the visible and open joint gap can be 0.1 mm, the compression 0.1 mm and the overlap 0.1 mm. The floorboards' possibility of moving will then be 0.3 mm all together and this considerable movement can be combined with a small visible open joint gap and a limited horizontal extent of the overlapping joint edge portion 18 that does not have to constitute a weakening of the joint edge. This is due to the fact that the overlapping joint edge portion 18 is very small and also made in the strongest part of the floorboard, which consists of the laminate surface, and melamine impregnated wood fibers. Such a locking system, which thus can provide a considerable possibility of movement without visible joint gaps, can be used in all the applications described above. Furthermore the locking system is especially suitable for use in broad floorboards, on the short sides, when the floorboards are installed in parallel rows and the like, i.e., in all the applications that require great mobility in the locking system to counteract the dimensional change of the floor. It can also be used in the short sides of floorboards, which constitute a frame FR, or frieze round a floor installed in a herringbone pattern according to FIG. 5 c. In this embodiment, shown in FIGS. 3 b-3 d, the vertical extent of the overlapping joint edge portion, i.e., the depth GD of the joint opening, is less than 0.1 times the floor thickness T. An especially preferred embodiment according to the invention is a semi-floating floor with the following characteristics: The surface layer is laminate or wood veneer, the core of the floorboard is a wood based board such as MDF or HDF, the floor thickness T is 6-9 mm and the overlapping OL is smaller than the average play AP when a force F of 100 kg/m is used. As an example it could be mentioned that the depth GD of the joint opening could be 0.2-0.5 mm (=0.02*T−0.08 T). The overlapping OL could be 0.1-0.3 mm (=0.01*T−0.05*T) on long sides. The overlapping OL on the short sides could be equal or larger than the overlapping on the long sides.
  • FIG. 3 e show an embodiment where the joint opening JO 1 is very small or nonexistent when the floorboards are pressed together. When the floorboards are pulled apart, a joint opening JO 1 will occur. This joint opening will be substantially of the same size as the average play AP. The decorative groove could for example be colored in some suitable design matching the floor surface and a play will not cause an open joint gap. A very small overlapping OL of some 0.1 mm (0.01*T−0.02*T) only and slightly smaller average play AP could give sufficient floor movement and this could be combined with a moisture resistant high quality joint. The play will also facilitate locking, unlocking and displacement in locked position. Such overlapping edge portions could be used in all known mechanical locking systems in order to improve the function of the mechanical locking system.
  • FIGS. 4 a and 4 b show how a locking system can be designed so as to allow a floating installation of floor-boards, which comprise a moisture sensitive material. In this embodiment, the floorboard is made of homogeneous wood.
  • FIG. 4 a shows the locking system in a state subjected to tensile load, and FIG. 4 b shows the locking system in the compressed state. For the floor to have an attractive appearance, the relative size of the joint openings should not differ much from each other. To ensure that the visible joint openings do not differ much while the floor moves, the smallest joint opening JO 2 should be greater than half the greatest joint opening JO 1. Moreover, the depth GD should preferably be less than 0.5*TT, TT being the distance between the floor surface and the upper parts of the tongue/groove. In the case where there is no tongue, GD should be less than 0.2 times the floor thickness T. This facilitates cleaning of the joint opening. It is also advantageous if JO 1 is about 1-5 mm, which corresponds to normal gaps in homogeneous wooden floors. According to the invention, the overlapping joint edge portion should preferably lie close to the floor surface. This allows a shallow joint opening while at the same time vertical locking can occur using a tongue 10 and a groove 9 which are placed essentially in the central parts of the floorboard between the front side and the rear side where the core 30 has good stability. An alternative way of providing a shallow joint opening, which allows movement, is illustrated in FIG. 4 c. The upper part of the tongue 10 has been moved up towards the floor surface. The drawback of this solution is that the upper joint edge portion 18 above the tongue 10 will be far too weak. The joint edge portion 18 can easily crack or be deformed.
  • FIGS. 5 a and 5 b illustrate the long side joint of three floorboards 1, 1′ and 1″ with the width W. FIG. 5 a shows the floorboards where the RH is low, and FIG. 5 b shows them when the RH is high. To resemble homogeneous floors, broad floorboards should preferably have wider joint gaps than narrow ones. JO 2 should suitably be at least about 1% of the floor width W. 100 mm wide floorboards will then have a smallest joint opening of at least 1 mm. Corresponding joint openings in, for example, 200 mm wide planks should be at least 2 mm. Other combinations can, of course, also be used especially in wooden floors where special requirements are made by different kinds of wood and different climatic conditions.
  • FIG. 6 a shows a wooden floor, which consists of several layers of wood. The floorboard may comprise, for example, an upper layer of high-grade wood, such as oak, which constitutes the decorative surface layer 31. The core 30 may comprise, for example, plywood, which is made up of other kinds of wood or by corresponding kinds of wood but of a different quality. Alternatively the core may comprise or wood lamellae. The upper layer 31 has as a rule a different fiber direction than a lower layer. In this embodiment, the overlapping joint edges 18 and 19 are made in the upper layer. The advantage is that the visible joint opening JO 1 will comprise the same kind of wood and fiber direction as the surface layer 31 and the appearance will be identical with that of a homogeneous wooden floor.
  • FIGS. 6 b and 6 c illustrate an embodiment where there is a small play 22 between the overlapping joint edge portions 16, 18, which facilitate horizontal movement in the locking system. FIG. 6 c shows joining by an angular motion and with the upper joint edge portions 18, 19 in contact with each other. The play 20 between the locking surface 15 of the locking element 8 and the locking groove 12 significantly facilitates joining by inward angling, especially in wooden floors that are not always straight.
  • In the above-preferred embodiments, the overlapping joint portion 18 is made in the tongue side, i.e., in the joint edge having a tongue 10. This overlapping joint portion 18 can also be made in the groove side, i.e., in the joint edge having a groove 9. FIGS. 6 d and 6 e illustrate such an embodiment. In FIG. 6 d, the boards are pressed together in their inner position, and in FIG. 6 e they are pulled out to their outer position.
  • FIGS. 7 a-7 b illustrate that it is advantageous if the upper joint edge 18, which overlaps the lower 16, is located on the tongue side 4 a. The groove side 4 b can then be joined by a vertical motion to a side 4 a, which has no tongue, according to FIG. 7 b. Such a locking system is especially suitable on the short side. FIG. 7 c shows such a locking system in the joined and pressed-together state. FIGS. 7 d and 7 e illustrate how the horizontal locks, for instance in the form of a strip 6 and a locking element 8 and also an upper and lower joint portion 19, 16, can be made by merely one tool TO which has a horizontally operating tool shaft HT and which thus can form the entire joint edge. Such a tool can be mounted, for example, on a circular saw, and a high quality joint system can be made by means of a guide bar. The tool can also saw off the floorboard 1. In the preferred embodiment, only a partial dividing of the floorboard 1 is made at the outer portion 24 of the strip 6. The final dividing is made by the floorboard being broken off. This reduces the risk of the tool TO being damaged by contacting a subfloor of, for instance, concrete. This technique can be used to produce a frame or freize FR in a floor, which, for instance, is installed in a herringbone pattern according to FIG. 5 c. The tool can also be used to manufacture a locking system of a traditional type without overlapping joint edge portions.
  • FIGS. 8 a-8 f illustrate different embodiments. FIGS. 8 a-8 c illustrate how the invention can be used in locking systems where the horizontal lock comprises a tongue 10 with a locking element 8 which cooperates with a locking groove 12 made in a groove 9 which is defined by an upper lip 23 and where the locking groove 12 is positioned in the upper lip 23. The groove also has a lower lip 24 which can be removed to allow joining by a vertical motion. FIG. 8 d shows a locking system with a separate strip 6, which is made, for instance, of aluminum sheet. FIG. 8 e illustrates a locking system that has a separate strip 6 which can be made of a fiberboard-based material or of plastic, metal and like materials.
  • FIG. 8 f shows a locking system, which can be joined by horizontal snap action. The tongue 10 has a groove 9′ which allows its upper and lower part with the locking elements 8, 8′ to bend towards each other in connection with horizontally displacement of the joint edges 4 a and 4 b towards each other. In this embodiment, the upper and lower lip 23, 24 in the groove 9 need not be resilient. Of course, the invention can also be used in conventional snap systems where the lips 23, 24 can be resilient.
  • FIGS. 9 a-9 d illustrate alternative embodiments of the invention. When the boards are pulled apart, separation of the cooperating locking surfaces 14 and 15 is prevented. When boards are pressed together, several alternative parts in the locking system can be used to define the inner position. In FIG. 9 a, the inner position of the outer part of the locking element 8 and the locking groove 10 is determined. According to FIG. 9 b, the outer part of the tongue 10 and the groove 9 cooperate. According to FIG. 9 c the front and lower part of the tongue 10 cooperates with the groove 9. According to FIG. 9 d, a locking element 10′ on the lower part of the tongue 10 cooperates with a locking element 9′ on the strip 6. It is obvious that several other parts in the locking system can be used according to these principles in order to define the inner position of the floorboards.
  • FIG. 10 a shows production equipments and production methods according to the invention. The end tenor ET has a chain 40 and a belt 41 which displace the floorboard 1 in a feeding direction FD relative a tool set, which in this embodiment has five tools 51,52,53,54 and 55 and pressure shoes 42. The end tenor could also have two chins and two belts. FIG. 10 b is an enlargement of the first tooling station. The first tool 51 in the tool set makes a guiding surface 12 which in this embodiment is a groove and which is mainly formed as the locking groove 12 of the locking system. Of course other groves could be formed preferably in that part of the floorboard where the mechanical locking system will be formed. The pressure shoe 42′ has a guiding device 43′which cooperates with the groove 12 and prevents deviations from the feeding direction FD and in a plane parallel to the horizontal plane. FIG. 10 c shows the end tenor seen from the feeding direction when the floorboard has passed the first tool 51. In this embodiment the locking groove 12 is used as a guiding surface for the guiding device 43, which is attached to the pressing shoe 42. The FIG. 10 d shows that the same groove 12 could be used as a guiding surface in all tool stations. FIG. 10 d shows how the tongue could be formed with a tool 54. The machining of a particular part of the floorboard 1 can take place when this part, at the same time, is guided by the guiding device 43. FIG. 11 a shows another embodiment where the guiding device is attached inside the pressure shoe. The disadvantage is that the board will have a grove in the rear side. FIG. 11 b shows another embodiment where one or both outer edges of the floorboard are used as a guiding surface for the guiding device 43, 43′. The end tenor has in this embodiment support units 44, 44′ which cooperate with the pressure shoes 42,42′. The guiding device could alternatively be attached to this support units 44,44′. FIG. 11 c and 11 d shows how a floorboard could be produced in two steps. The tongue side 10 is formed in step one. The same guiding groove 12 is used in step 2 (FIG. 11 d) when the groove side 9 is formed. Such an end tenor will be very flexible. The advantage is that floorboards of different widths, smaller or larger than the chain width, could be produced.
  • FIGS. 12 a-12 c show a preferred embodiment which guaranties that a semi-floating floor will be installed in the normal position which preferably is a position where the actual joint gap is about 50% of the maximum joint gap. If for instance all floorboards are installed with edges 16, 17 in contact, problems may occur around the walls when the floorboards swell to their maximum size. The locking element and the locking groove could be formed in such a way that the floorboards are automatically guided in the optimal position during installation. FIG. 12 c shows that the locking element 8 in this embodiment has a locking surface with a high locking angle LA close to 90 degree to the horizontal plane. This locking angle LA is higher than the angle of the tangent line TL to the circle C, which has a center at the upper joint edges. FIG. 12 b shows that such a joint geometry will during angling push the floorboard 4 a towards the floorboard 4 b and bring it into the above-mentioned preferred position with a play between the locking element 8 and the locking groove 12 and a joint gap between the top edges 16, 17.
  • Although only preferred embodiments are specifically illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated that many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings and within the purview of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and intended scope of the invention.

Claims (7)

1. A semi-floating floor comprises rectangular floorboards joined with a mechanical locking system and in which locking system the joined floorboards have a horizontal plane which is parallel to a floor surface and a vertical plane which is perpendicular to the horizontal plane, said locking system having mechanically cooperating locks for vertical joining parallel to the vertical plane and for horizontal joining parallel to the horizontal plane of a first and a second joint edge and in which locking system a vertical lock comprising a tongue which cooperates with a tongue groove and the horizontal lock comprising a locking element with a locking surface which cooperates with a locking groove, wherein the format, installation pattern and locking system of the floorboards are designed in such a manner that a floor surface of 1*1 meter can change in length ΔTL in at least one direction at least 1 mm when the floorboards are subjected to a compressive and a tensile load in the horizontal plane, and that this change in length ΔTL can occur without visible joint gaps.
2. The semi-floating floor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the width of the floorboards does not exceed about 120 mm.
3. The semi-floating floor as claimed in claim 2, wherein there is an average play in the locking system of at least about 0.1 mm when the boards are subjected to a compressive and a tensile load in the horizontal plane.
4. The semi-floating floor as claimed in claim 3, wherein the floorboards are joined long side against short side.
5. The semi-floating floor as claimed in claim 3, wherein the floorboards have a surface layer of laminate, and that parts of the surface layer on at least one joint edge have been removed.
6. The semi-floating floor as claimed in claim 3, wherein a surface layer is laminate or wood veneer, the core of the floorboard is a wood based board, the change in floor length ΔTL is at least 1.0 mm when a force F of 100 kg/m of the joint edge is used, the change in floor length ΔTL is at least 1.5 mm when a force F of 200 kg/m of the joint edge is used, the average joint gaps do not exceed 0.15 mm when the force F is 100 kg/m of joint edge and they do not exceed 0.20 mm when the force F is 200 kg/m of joint edge.
7. The semi-flooring floor as claimed in claim 6, wherein the wood based board is MDF or HDF.
US11/034,059 2004-01-13 2005-01-13 Floor covering and locking systems Abandoned US20050166516A1 (en)

Priority Applications (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US11/034,059 US20050166516A1 (en) 2004-01-13 2005-01-13 Floor covering and locking systems
US11/822,682 US8495849B2 (en) 2004-01-13 2007-07-09 Floor covering and locking systems
US14/021,532 US9322183B2 (en) 2004-01-13 2013-09-09 Floor covering and locking systems
US15/078,470 US10138637B2 (en) 2004-01-13 2016-03-23 Floor covering and locking systems

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
SE0400068A SE526596C2 (en) 2004-01-13 2004-01-13 Floating floor with mechanical locking system that allows movement between the floorboards
SE0400068-3 2004-01-13
US53789104P 2004-01-22 2004-01-22
US11/034,059 US20050166516A1 (en) 2004-01-13 2005-01-13 Floor covering and locking systems

Related Child Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US11/822,682 Continuation US8495849B2 (en) 2004-01-13 2007-07-09 Floor covering and locking systems
US14/021,532 Continuation US9322183B2 (en) 2004-01-13 2013-09-09 Floor covering and locking systems

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20050166516A1 true US20050166516A1 (en) 2005-08-04

Family

ID=34811811

Family Applications (4)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US11/034,059 Abandoned US20050166516A1 (en) 2004-01-13 2005-01-13 Floor covering and locking systems
US11/822,682 Active US8495849B2 (en) 2004-01-13 2007-07-09 Floor covering and locking systems
US14/021,532 Active US9322183B2 (en) 2004-01-13 2013-09-09 Floor covering and locking systems
US15/078,470 Active US10138637B2 (en) 2004-01-13 2016-03-23 Floor covering and locking systems

Family Applications After (3)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US11/822,682 Active US8495849B2 (en) 2004-01-13 2007-07-09 Floor covering and locking systems
US14/021,532 Active US9322183B2 (en) 2004-01-13 2013-09-09 Floor covering and locking systems
US15/078,470 Active US10138637B2 (en) 2004-01-13 2016-03-23 Floor covering and locking systems

Country Status (1)

Country Link
US (4) US20050166516A1 (en)

Cited By (41)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20070068110A1 (en) * 2005-09-28 2007-03-29 Bing-Hong Liu Floor panel with coupling means and methods of making the same
US20070119110A1 (en) * 2000-04-10 2007-05-31 Valinge Innovation Ab Locking System For Floorboards
GB2436570A (en) * 2006-03-30 2007-10-03 Sonae Floorboard with rebated side and end edges
US20070292656A1 (en) * 2006-06-20 2007-12-20 Pt. Tanjung Kreasi Parquet Industry Engineered wood floor using core material with vertical glue-line position
US20080005999A1 (en) * 2004-01-13 2008-01-10 Valinge Innovation Ab Floor covering and locking systems
US20080168737A1 (en) * 2004-01-13 2008-07-17 Valinge Innovation Ab Floor covering and locking systems
US20080209837A1 (en) * 2002-04-22 2008-09-04 Valinge Innovation Ab Floorboards, flooring systems and methods for manufacturing and installation thereof
US20080241440A1 (en) * 2005-08-19 2008-10-02 Bauer Jorg R Detachably-Affixable, Flat Components, in Particular Floor Covering Parts, and Component
US20090049787A1 (en) * 2005-06-16 2009-02-26 Akzenta Paneele + Profile Gmbh Floor panel provided with a core made of a derived timber product, a decorative layer and locking sections
US7757452B2 (en) 2002-04-03 2010-07-20 Valinge Innovation Ab Mechanical locking system for floorboards
US7779596B2 (en) 2000-01-24 2010-08-24 Valinge Innovation Ab Locking system for mechanical joining of floorboards and method for production thereof
US7823359B2 (en) 1993-05-10 2010-11-02 Valinge Innovation Ab Floor panel with a tongue, groove and a strip
US7841144B2 (en) 2005-03-30 2010-11-30 Valinge Innovation Ab Mechanical locking system for panels and method of installing same
US7886497B2 (en) 2003-12-02 2011-02-15 Valinge Innovation Ab Floorboard, system and method for forming a flooring, and a flooring formed thereof
US20110056014A1 (en) * 2007-05-31 2011-03-10 Taplanes Limited Joint System For The Manufacturing Of A Shower Cubicle
US7926234B2 (en) 2002-03-20 2011-04-19 Valinge Innovation Ab Floorboards with decorative grooves
US8042484B2 (en) 2004-10-05 2011-10-25 Valinge Innovation Ab Appliance and method for surface treatment of a board shaped material and floorboard
US8061104B2 (en) 2005-05-20 2011-11-22 Valinge Innovation Ab Mechanical locking system for floor panels
US8215078B2 (en) 2005-02-15 2012-07-10 Välinge Innovation Belgium BVBA Building panel with compressed edges and method of making same
US8245477B2 (en) 2002-04-08 2012-08-21 Välinge Innovation AB Floorboards for floorings
US8250825B2 (en) 2001-09-20 2012-08-28 Välinge Innovation AB Flooring and method for laying and manufacturing the same
US20120279154A1 (en) * 2006-01-12 2012-11-08 Valinge Innovation Ab Resilient groove
US20130118105A1 (en) * 2011-11-10 2013-05-16 Parquet By Dian Composite membrane of wood floor diaphragm
US8584423B2 (en) 2001-07-27 2013-11-19 Valinge Innovation Ab Floor panel with sealing means
US20130313046A1 (en) * 2012-05-24 2013-11-28 John Birk Adjustable length scaffolding and method therefor
US8756899B2 (en) 2009-09-04 2014-06-24 Valinge Innovation Ab Resilient floor
US8800150B2 (en) 2003-02-24 2014-08-12 Valinge Innovation Ab Floorboard and method for manufacturing thereof
US8806832B2 (en) 2011-03-18 2014-08-19 Inotec Global Limited Vertical joint system and associated surface covering system
US20140242342A1 (en) * 2011-10-03 2014-08-28 Unilin, Bvba Panel and Method for Manufacturing Panels
US8850769B2 (en) 2002-04-15 2014-10-07 Valinge Innovation Ab Floorboards for floating floors
US20140318895A1 (en) * 2013-04-29 2014-10-30 John Birk Adjustable length scaffolding and method therefor
US9314936B2 (en) 2011-08-29 2016-04-19 Valinge Flooring Technology Ab Mechanical locking system for floor panels
US9528276B2 (en) 1998-06-03 2016-12-27 Valinge Innovation Ab Locking system and flooring board
US9567753B2 (en) 1999-04-30 2017-02-14 Valinge Innovation Ab Locking system, floorboard comprising such a locking system, as well as method for making floorboards
US10059084B2 (en) 2014-07-16 2018-08-28 Valinge Innovation Ab Method to produce a thermoplastic wear resistant foil
US10301830B2 (en) 2013-03-25 2019-05-28 Valinge Innovation Ab Floorboards provided with a mechanical locking system
US20190309526A1 (en) * 2016-12-01 2019-10-10 Unilin, Bvba Set of floor panels and method for composing thereof
US10501943B1 (en) * 2016-02-19 2019-12-10 Custom Finish Wood Flooring Llc Systems and methods for installing flooring
US10801213B2 (en) 2018-01-10 2020-10-13 Valinge Innovation Ab Subfloor joint
US11578495B2 (en) 2018-12-05 2023-02-14 Valinge Innovation Ab Subfloor joint
US11725395B2 (en) 2009-09-04 2023-08-15 Välinge Innovation AB Resilient floor

Families Citing this family (52)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7763345B2 (en) 1999-12-14 2010-07-27 Mannington Mills, Inc. Thermoplastic planks and methods for making the same
BE1017157A3 (en) 2006-06-02 2008-03-04 Flooring Ind Ltd FLOOR COVERING, FLOOR ELEMENT AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING FLOOR ELEMENTS.
BE1017350A6 (en) * 2006-10-31 2008-06-03 Flooring Ind Ltd Panel for floor covering, has space that defines predetermined distance between upper edges of floor panels which are locked through coupler
DE202008011589U1 (en) * 2008-09-01 2008-11-27 Akzenta Paneele + Profile Gmbh Plastic floor panel with mechanical locking edges
US8931174B2 (en) 2009-07-31 2015-01-13 Valinge Innovation Ab Methods and arrangements relating to edge machining of building panels
EP2459356B1 (en) * 2009-07-31 2020-03-18 Välinge Innovation AB Methods relating to edge machining of building panels
US11717901B2 (en) 2009-07-31 2023-08-08 Valinge Innovation Ab Methods and arrangements relating to edge machining of building panels
PL2339092T3 (en) 2009-12-22 2019-11-29 Flooring Ind Ltd Sarl Method for producing covering panels
BE1019331A5 (en) 2010-05-10 2012-06-05 Flooring Ind Ltd Sarl FLOOR PANEL AND METHODS FOR MANUFACTURING FLOOR PANELS.
BE1019501A5 (en) 2010-05-10 2012-08-07 Flooring Ind Ltd Sarl FLOOR PANEL AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING FLOOR PANELS.
US8925275B2 (en) 2010-05-10 2015-01-06 Flooring Industries Limited, Sarl Floor panel
UA109938C2 (en) 2011-05-06 2015-10-26 MECHANICAL LOCKING SYSTEM FOR CONSTRUCTION PANELS
BR112014031655A2 (en) 2012-06-19 2017-06-27 Vaelinge Flooring Tech Ab method for dividing a board into a first panel and a second panel, a method for forming a mechanical locking system for locking a first and a second panel and building panels
FR3009731A1 (en) 2013-08-19 2015-02-20 Findes BLADES OF ASSEMBLABLE COATINGS ON BOARD BY EMBOITEMENT AUTOBLOQUANT AND INSTALLATION ACCESSORIES FOR THEIR SOLIDARIZATION WITH A WALL
US9726210B2 (en) 2013-09-16 2017-08-08 Valinge Innovation Ab Assembled product and a method of assembling the product
DK3470690T3 (en) 2013-09-16 2022-01-17 Vaelinge Innovation Ab ASSEMBLED PRODUCT
US9714672B2 (en) 2014-01-10 2017-07-25 Valinge Innovation Ab Panels comprising a mechanical locking device and an assembled product comprising the panels
EP3091872B1 (en) * 2014-01-10 2018-10-24 Välinge Innovation AB A furniture panel
CH709448A1 (en) * 2014-03-31 2015-10-15 Proverum Ag A method for processing a useful surface of a floor covering.
EA037707B1 (en) 2014-05-09 2021-05-13 Велинге Инновейшн Аб Set of furniture components
DE202014010455U1 (en) * 2014-09-30 2015-08-03 Akzenta Paneele + Profile Gmbh paneling
US10876301B2 (en) 2014-09-30 2020-12-29 Akzenta Paneele + Profile Gmbh Panel with complimentary locking elements
PL3594514T3 (en) 2014-12-19 2023-03-20 Välinge Innovation AB Panels comprising a mechanical locking device
WO2016171607A1 (en) 2015-04-21 2016-10-27 Välinge Innovation AB Panel with a slider
AU2016254803B2 (en) 2015-04-30 2021-01-21 Välinge Innovation AB Panel with a fastening device
BR112018005338B1 (en) 2015-09-22 2023-03-21 Välinge Innovation AB ASSEMBLY OF PANELS COMPRISING A MECHANICAL LOCKING DEVICE AND ASSEMBLED FURNITURE PRODUCT COMPRISING THE PANELS
UA124621C2 (en) 2015-12-03 2021-10-20 Велінге Інновейшн Аб Panels comprising a mechanical locking device and an assembled product comprising the panels
ES2866936T3 (en) 2016-01-26 2021-10-20 Vaelinge Innovation Ab Panels comprising a mechanical interlocking device to obtain a furniture product
JP6891182B2 (en) 2016-02-04 2021-06-18 ベーリンゲ、イノベイション、アクチボラグVaelinge Innovation Ab Set of panels for assembled products
RU2711865C1 (en) 2016-02-09 2020-01-23 Велинге Инновейшн Аб Element and method of making groove for dismantling
EP3413752B1 (en) 2016-02-09 2020-11-25 Välinge Innovation AB A set of three panel-shaped elements
PT3416792T (en) 2016-02-15 2021-01-28 Vaelinge Innovation Ab A method for forming a panel for a furniture product
EP3532737A4 (en) 2016-10-27 2020-04-01 Välinge Innovation AB Set of panels with a mechanical locking device
BE1024734B1 (en) * 2016-11-10 2018-06-19 Ivc Bvba FLOOR PANEL AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A FLOOR PANEL
CN110382185A (en) * 2017-03-09 2019-10-25 大日本印刷株式会社 Ornament materials
WO2018195207A1 (en) * 2017-04-18 2018-10-25 Louisiana-Pacific Corporation Self-spacing lap siding product
US20220042319A1 (en) * 2017-04-18 2022-02-10 Louisiana-Pacific Corporation Self-spacing lap siding product
US11156002B2 (en) * 2017-04-18 2021-10-26 Louisiana-Pacific Corporation Self-spacing lap siding product
US11225799B2 (en) * 2017-04-18 2022-01-18 Louisiana-Pacific Corporation Self-spacing lap siding product
US11506235B2 (en) 2017-05-15 2022-11-22 Valinge Innovation Ab Elements and a locking device for an assembled product
US11371542B2 (en) 2017-12-22 2022-06-28 Valinge Innovation Ab Set of panels
CN111465773B (en) 2017-12-22 2021-11-02 瓦林格创新股份有限公司 Panel set, method for assembling the panel set and locking device for furniture products
WO2019182505A1 (en) 2018-03-23 2019-09-26 Välinge Innovation AB Panels comprising a mechanical locking device and an assembled product comprising the panels
MX2020011009A (en) 2018-04-18 2020-11-11 Vaelinge Innovation Ab Symmetric tongue & t-cross.
US11703072B2 (en) 2018-04-18 2023-07-18 Valinge Innovation Ab Set of panels with a mechanical locking device
WO2019203721A1 (en) 2018-04-18 2019-10-24 Välinge Innovation AB Set of panels with a mechanical locking device
JP7305673B2 (en) 2018-04-18 2023-07-10 ベーリンゲ、イノベイション、アクチボラグ A set of panels with mechanical locking device
US11614114B2 (en) 2018-04-19 2023-03-28 Valinge Innovation Ab Panels for an assembled product
EP3581732B1 (en) * 2018-06-15 2022-12-07 Akzenta Paneele + Profile GmbH Panel with sealing crease and sealing ridge
PE20210492A1 (en) 2018-08-30 2021-03-15 Valinge Innovation Ab PANEL ASSEMBLY WITH A MECHANICAL LOCKING DEVICE
CA3154929A1 (en) * 2019-09-24 2021-04-01 Valinge Innovation Ab Building panel
EP3798385A1 (en) * 2019-09-24 2021-03-31 Välinge Innovation AB Building panel

Citations (91)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US301147A (en) * 1884-07-01 Process for preparing old steel for reworking
US1124228A (en) * 1913-02-28 1915-01-05 Ross Houston Matched flooring or board.
US1371856A (en) * 1919-04-15 1921-03-15 Robert S Cade Concrete paving-slab
US1407679A (en) * 1921-05-31 1922-02-21 William E Ruthrauff Flooring construction
US1454250A (en) * 1921-11-17 1923-05-08 William A Parsons Parquet flooring
US1540128A (en) * 1922-12-28 1925-06-02 Houston Ross Composite unit for flooring and the like and method for making same
US1575821A (en) * 1925-03-13 1926-03-09 John Alexander Hugh Cameron Parquet-floor composite sections
US1615096A (en) * 1925-09-21 1927-01-18 Joseph J R Meyers Floor and ceiling construction
US1622104A (en) * 1926-11-06 1927-03-22 John C King Lumber Company Block flooring and process of making the same
US1660480A (en) * 1925-03-13 1928-02-28 Daniels Ernest Stuart Parquet-floor panels
US1714738A (en) * 1928-06-11 1929-05-28 Arthur R Smith Flooring and the like
US1718702A (en) * 1928-03-30 1929-06-25 M B Farrin Lumber Company Composite panel and attaching device therefor
US1764331A (en) * 1929-02-23 1930-06-17 Paul O Moratz Matched hardwood flooring
US1790178A (en) * 1928-08-06 1931-01-27 Jr Daniel Manson Sutherland Fibre board and its manufacture
US1809393A (en) * 1929-05-09 1931-06-09 Byrd C Rockwell Inlay floor construction
US1859667A (en) * 1930-05-14 1932-05-24 J K Gruner Lumber Company Jointed lumber
US1898364A (en) * 1930-02-24 1933-02-21 George S Gynn Flooring construction
US1906411A (en) * 1930-12-29 1933-05-02 Potvin Frederick Peter Wood flooring
US1953360A (en) * 1927-11-10 1934-04-03 Massey Harris Co Tractor
US1986739A (en) * 1934-02-06 1935-01-01 Walter F Mitte Nail-on brick
US1988201A (en) * 1931-04-15 1935-01-15 Julius R Hall Reenforced flooring and method
US2042160A (en) * 1933-02-10 1936-05-26 Gen Steel Castings Corp Wheel
US2276071A (en) * 1939-01-25 1942-03-10 Johns Manville Panel construction
US2324628A (en) * 1941-02-07 1943-07-20 Kahr Gustaf Composite board structure
US2398632A (en) * 1944-05-08 1946-04-16 United States Gypsum Co Building element
US2460200A (en) * 1944-11-18 1949-01-25 Pure Oil Co Thermal conversion of hydrocarbons
US2495862A (en) * 1945-03-10 1950-01-31 Emery S Osborn Building construction of predetermined characteristics
US2497837A (en) * 1947-09-27 1950-02-14 Non Skid Surfacing Corp Board for flooring and the like
US2740200A (en) * 1952-03-06 1956-04-03 West Point Mfg Co Apparatus for testing thickness of material
US2780253A (en) * 1950-06-02 1957-02-05 Curt G Joa Self-centering feed rolls for a dowel machine or the like
US2894292A (en) * 1957-03-21 1959-07-14 Jasper Wood Crafters Inc Combination sub-floor and top floor
US3045294A (en) * 1956-03-22 1962-07-24 Jr William F Livezey Method and apparatus for laying floors
US3120083A (en) * 1960-04-04 1964-02-04 Bigelow Sanford Inc Carpet or floor tiles
US3125138A (en) * 1964-03-17 Gang saw for improved tongue and groove
US3182769A (en) * 1961-05-04 1965-05-11 Reynolds Metals Co Interlocking constructions and parts therefor or the like
US3247638A (en) * 1963-05-22 1966-04-26 James W Fair Interlocking tile carpet
US3310919A (en) * 1964-10-02 1967-03-28 Sico Inc Portable floor
US3377931A (en) * 1967-05-26 1968-04-16 Ralph W. Hilton Plank for modular load bearing surfaces such as aircraft landing mats
US3508523A (en) * 1967-05-15 1970-04-28 Plywood Research Foundation Apparatus for applying adhesive to wood stock
US3579941A (en) * 1968-11-19 1971-05-25 Howard C Tibbals Wood parquet block flooring unit
US3729368A (en) * 1971-04-21 1973-04-24 Ingham & Co Ltd R E Wood-plastic sheet laminate and method of making same
US3738404A (en) * 1971-02-22 1973-06-12 W Walker Method of producing dressed lumber from logs
US4028450A (en) * 1972-12-26 1977-06-07 Gould Walter M Method of molding a composite synthetic roofing structure
US4084996A (en) * 1974-07-15 1978-04-18 Wood Processes, Oregon Ltd. Method of making a grooved, fiber-clad plywood panel
US4196554A (en) * 1977-08-27 1980-04-08 H. H. Robertson Company Roof panel joint
US4567690A (en) * 1983-11-10 1986-02-04 Murrell K Dale Selectively closed modular cultivation apparatus
US4567706A (en) * 1983-08-03 1986-02-04 United States Gypsum Company Edge attachment clip for wall panels
US4648165A (en) * 1984-11-09 1987-03-10 Whitehorne Gary R Metal frame (spring puller)
US4822440A (en) * 1987-11-04 1989-04-18 Nvf Company Crossband and crossbanding
US5213861A (en) * 1991-09-04 1993-05-25 Severson Thomas A Wooden tile and method for making same
US5274979A (en) * 1992-12-22 1994-01-04 Tsai Jui Hsing Insulating plate unit
US5286545A (en) * 1991-12-18 1994-02-15 Southern Resin, Inc. Laminated wooden board product
US5425986A (en) * 1992-07-21 1995-06-20 Masco Corporation High pressure laminate structure
US5613894A (en) * 1993-12-30 1997-03-25 Delle Vedove Levigatrici Spa Method to hone curved and shaped profiles and honing machine to carry out such method
US5755068A (en) * 1995-11-17 1998-05-26 Ormiston; Fred I. Veneer panels and method of making
US5899251A (en) * 1995-01-16 1999-05-04 Turner; Allan William Wood machineable joint
US6021615A (en) * 1998-11-19 2000-02-08 Brown; Arthur J. Wood flooring panel
US6189283B1 (en) * 1995-12-05 2001-02-20 Sico Incorporated Portable floor
US6226951B1 (en) * 1996-12-11 2001-05-08 Azar Holdings Ltd. Concrete building blocks
US20020007609A1 (en) * 2000-01-24 2002-01-24 Darko Pervan Locking system for mechanical joining of floorboards and method for production thereof
US20020020127A1 (en) * 2000-06-20 2002-02-21 Thiers Bernard Paul Joseph Floor covering
US20020056245A1 (en) * 2000-06-13 2002-05-16 Thiers Bernard Paul Joseph Floor covering
US6401415B1 (en) * 1999-11-05 2002-06-11 Industrias Auxiliares Faus, S.L. Direct laminated floor
US6505452B1 (en) * 1999-06-30 2003-01-14 Akzenta Paneele + Profile Gmbh Panel and fastening system for panels
US20030024200A1 (en) * 1996-06-11 2003-02-06 Unilin Beheer B.V., Besloten Vennootschap Floor panels with edge connectors
US6521314B2 (en) * 2000-02-22 2003-02-18 Kronotec Ag Panel, particularly a floor panel
US6526719B2 (en) * 2000-03-07 2003-03-04 E.F.P. Floor Products Gmbh Mechanical panel connection
US20030041545A1 (en) * 2001-06-27 2003-03-06 Stanchfield Oliver O. High friction joint, and interlocking joints for forming a generally planar surface, and method of assembling the same
US6536178B1 (en) * 2000-03-10 2003-03-25 Pergo (Europe) Ab Vertically joined floor elements comprising a combination of different floor elements
US20030079820A1 (en) * 2000-03-31 2003-05-01 Jorgen Palsson Building panels
US20040035079A1 (en) * 2002-08-26 2004-02-26 Evjen John M. Method and apparatus for interconnecting paneling
US20040045254A1 (en) * 2000-11-20 2004-03-11 Van Der Heijden Franciscus Antonius Maria Device for connecting to each other three flat elements
US20040068955A1 (en) * 1996-03-19 2004-04-15 Kinya Aota Friction stir welding hollow frame member
US6851241B2 (en) * 2001-01-12 2005-02-08 Valinge Aluminium Ab Floorboards and methods for production and installation thereof
US6862857B2 (en) * 2001-12-04 2005-03-08 Kronotec Ag Structural panels and method of connecting same
US20050102937A1 (en) * 1998-06-03 2005-05-19 Valinge Aluminium Ab Locking System And Flooring Board
US20050108970A1 (en) * 2003-11-25 2005-05-26 Mei-Ling Liu Parquet block with woodwork joints
US20050138881A1 (en) * 2003-03-06 2005-06-30 Darko Pervan Flooring systems and methods for installation
US20060032168A1 (en) * 2003-01-08 2006-02-16 Thiers Bernard P J Floor panel, its laying and manufacturing methods
US7003925B2 (en) * 2000-04-10 2006-02-28 Valinge Aluminum Ab Locking system for floorboards
US20060048474A1 (en) * 2002-03-20 2006-03-09 Darko Pervan Floorboards with decorative grooves
US7022189B2 (en) * 2002-02-25 2006-04-04 Delle Vedove Levigatrici Spa Vacuum painting head and relative painting method
US20060073320A1 (en) * 2004-10-05 2006-04-06 Valinge Aluminium Ab Appliance And Method For Surface Treatment Of A Board Shaped Material And Floorboard
US20060070333A1 (en) * 2002-04-03 2006-04-06 Darko Pervan Mechanical locking system for floorboards
US20060075713A1 (en) * 2001-09-20 2006-04-13 Valinge Aluminium Method Of Making A Floorboard And Method Of Making A Floor With The Floorboard
US20060101769A1 (en) * 2004-10-22 2006-05-18 Valinge Aluminium Ab Mechanical locking system for floor panels
US7047697B1 (en) * 2003-11-25 2006-05-23 Homeland Vinyl Products, Inc. Modular decking planks
US20080000190A1 (en) * 2006-01-11 2008-01-03 Valinge Innovation Ab V-groove
US20080005999A1 (en) * 2004-01-13 2008-01-10 Valinge Innovation Ab Floor covering and locking systems
US20080005997A1 (en) * 2002-04-22 2008-01-10 Valinge Innovation Ab Floorboards, flooring systems and method for manufacturing and installation thereof
US20080028713A1 (en) * 2001-09-20 2008-02-07 Valinge Innovation Ab Flooring and method for laying and manufacturing the same

Family Cites Families (421)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB599793A (en) 1944-03-07 1948-03-22 Henry Wynmalen Improvements in or relating to walls, roofs, floors, and ceilings
US168672A (en) * 1875-10-11 Improvement in flooring-boards
US1194636A (en) 1916-08-15 Silent door latch
US213740A (en) * 1879-04-01 Improvement in wooden roofs
US714987A (en) 1902-02-17 1902-12-02 Martin Wilford Wolfe Interlocking board.
US753791A (en) 1903-08-25 1904-03-01 Elisha J Fulghum Method of making floor-boards.
US1468288A (en) 1920-07-01 1923-09-18 Een Johannes Benjamin Wooden-floor section
SE57493C1 (en) 1923-10-01 1924-09-16
US1477813A (en) 1923-10-16 1923-12-18 Daniels Ernest Stuart Parquet flooring and wall paneling
US1510924A (en) 1924-03-27 1924-10-07 Daniels Ernest Stuart Parquet flooring and wall paneling
US1602267A (en) 1925-02-28 1926-10-05 John M Karwisch Parquet-flooring unit
US1602256A (en) 1925-11-09 1926-10-05 Sellin Otto Interlocked sheathing board
US1644710A (en) 1925-12-31 1927-10-11 Cromar Company Prefinished flooring
US1622103A (en) 1926-09-02 1927-03-22 John C King Lumber Company Hardwood block flooring
US1637634A (en) 1927-02-28 1927-08-02 Charles J Carter Flooring
US1778069A (en) 1928-03-07 1930-10-14 Bruce E L Co Wood-block flooring
US1787027A (en) * 1929-02-20 1930-12-30 Wasleff Alex Herringbone flooring
US1734826A (en) 1929-10-09 1929-11-05 Pick Israel Manufacture of partition and like building blocks
US1823039A (en) 1930-02-12 1931-09-15 J K Gruner Lumber Company Jointed lumber
US1843024A (en) * 1930-05-19 1932-01-26 Bruce E L Co Wood block flooring
US1925070A (en) 1930-10-04 1933-08-29 Bruce E L Co Laying wood block flooring
US1940377A (en) 1930-12-09 1933-12-19 Raymond W Storm Flooring
US1953306A (en) 1931-07-13 1934-04-03 Paul O Moratz Flooring strip and joint
US2015813A (en) 1931-07-13 1935-10-01 Nat Wood Products Co Wood block flooring
US1929871A (en) 1931-08-20 1933-10-10 Berton W Jones Parquet flooring
US1995264A (en) 1931-11-03 1935-03-19 Masonite Corp Composite structural unit
US2089075A (en) 1931-12-10 1937-08-03 Western Electric Co Flooring and method of constructing a floor
US2044216A (en) 1934-01-11 1936-06-16 Edward A Klages Wall structure
US2026511A (en) 1934-05-14 1935-12-31 Storm George Freeman Floor and process of laying the same
GB424057A (en) 1934-07-24 1935-02-14 Smith Joseph Improvements appertaining to the production of parquetry floors
US2088238A (en) 1935-06-12 1937-07-27 Harris Mfg Company Wood flooring
US2123409A (en) 1936-12-10 1938-07-12 Elmendorf Armin Flexible wood floor or flooring material
CH200949A (en) 1937-12-03 1938-11-15 Ferdinand Baechi Process for the production of floors and soil produced by this method.
US2266464A (en) 1939-02-14 1941-12-16 Gen Tire & Rubber Co Yieldingly joined flooring
US2303745A (en) 1939-02-21 1942-12-01 M B Farrin Lumber Co Manufacture of single matted flooring panel
CH211877A (en) 1939-05-26 1940-10-31 Wyrsch Durrer Martin Exposed parquet floor.
US2387446A (en) * 1943-07-31 1945-10-23 Irwin Machinery Company Board feed for woodworking machines
US2430200A (en) * 1944-11-18 1947-11-04 Nina Mae Wilson Lock joint
GB585205A (en) 1944-12-22 1947-01-31 David Augustine Harper Curing of polymeric materials
GB636423A (en) 1947-09-17 1950-04-26 Bernard James Balfe Improvements in or relating to adhesive compositions
US2740167A (en) * 1952-09-05 1956-04-03 John C Rowley Interlocking parquet block
US2851740A (en) 1953-04-15 1958-09-16 United States Gypsum Co Wall construction
US2805852A (en) * 1954-05-21 1957-09-10 Kanthal Ab Furnace plates of refractory material
US2928456A (en) 1955-03-22 1960-03-15 Haskelite Mfg Corp Bonded laminated panel
US2865058A (en) 1955-04-12 1958-12-23 Gustaf Kahr Composite floors
US2947040A (en) 1956-06-18 1960-08-02 Package Home Mfg Inc Wall construction
CH345451A (en) 1956-06-27 1960-03-31 Piodi Roberto Rubber floor or similar material
AT218725B (en) 1959-01-16 1961-12-27 Jakob Niederguenzl Machine for the production of small parquet boards
US3100556A (en) 1959-07-30 1963-08-13 Reynolds Metals Co Interlocking metallic structural members
US3203149A (en) 1960-03-16 1965-08-31 American Seal Kap Corp Interlocking panel structure
FR1293043A (en) 1961-03-27 1962-05-11 Piraud Plastiques Ets Flooring Tile
US3259417A (en) 1961-08-07 1966-07-05 Wood Processes Oregon Ltd Suction head for transporting veneer sheets
US3204380A (en) * 1962-01-31 1965-09-07 Allied Chem Acoustical tiles with thermoplastic covering sheets and interlocking tongue-and-groove edge connections
US3282010A (en) 1962-12-18 1966-11-01 Jr Andrew J King Parquet flooring block
US3301147A (en) 1963-07-22 1967-01-31 Harvey Aluminum Inc Vehicle-supporting matting and plank therefor
US3200553A (en) * 1963-09-06 1965-08-17 Forrest Ind Inc Composition board flooring strip
US3267630A (en) 1964-04-20 1966-08-23 Powerlock Floors Inc Flooring systems
GB1127915A (en) 1964-10-20 1968-09-18 Karosa Improvements in or relating to vehicle bodies
US3436868A (en) 1965-03-19 1969-04-08 Christensen Diamond Prod Co Rounding and polishing apparatus for crystalline carbon bodies
US3347048A (en) * 1965-09-27 1967-10-17 Coastal Res Corp Revetment block
US3385182A (en) 1965-09-27 1968-05-28 Harvey Aluminum Inc Interlocking device for load bearing surfaces such as aircraft landing mats
SE301705B (en) 1965-10-20 1968-06-17 P Ottosson
US3481810A (en) 1965-12-20 1969-12-02 John C Waite Method of manufacturing composite flooring material
US3460304A (en) 1966-05-20 1969-08-12 Dow Chemical Co Structural panel with interlocking edges
CH469160A (en) 1966-10-20 1969-02-28 Kuhle Erich Floor covering and method of making same
US3387422A (en) * 1966-10-28 1968-06-11 Bright Brooks Lumber Company O Floor construction
GB1171337A (en) 1967-01-28 1969-11-19 Transitoria Trading Company Ab A Latching Means for Cupboard Doors, Locker Doors, Drawers and like Openable Members
US3553919A (en) 1968-01-31 1971-01-12 Omholt Ray Flooring systems
US3538665A (en) * 1968-04-15 1970-11-10 Bauwerke Ag Parquet flooring
US3526420A (en) 1968-05-22 1970-09-01 Itt Self-locking seam
US4037377A (en) 1968-05-28 1977-07-26 H. H. Robertson Company Foamed-in-place double-skin building panel
GB1237744A (en) 1968-06-28 1971-06-30 Limstra Ab Improved building structure
US3555762A (en) 1968-07-08 1971-01-19 Aluminum Plastic Products Corp False floor of interlocked metal sections
DK118481B (en) 1969-02-07 1970-08-24 B Jeppesen Window.
US3548559A (en) 1969-05-05 1970-12-22 Liskey Aluminum Floor panel
SE515324C2 (en) 2000-06-22 2001-07-16 Tarkett Sommer Ab Floor board with connecting means
CH526974A (en) * 1970-02-20 1972-08-31 Bruun & Soerensen Floor to lay on an ice rink
DE2021503A1 (en) 1970-05-02 1971-11-25 Freudenberg Carl Fa Floor panels and methods of joining them
US3694983A (en) * 1970-05-19 1972-10-03 Pierre Jean Couquet Pile or plastic tiles for flooring and like applications
GB1385375A (en) 1971-02-26 1975-02-26 Sanwa Kako Co Floor covering unit
SU363795A1 (en) 1971-03-09 1972-12-25 Центральный научно исследовательский институт механической обработки древесины WOODEN FLOOR
FR2128182B1 (en) 1971-03-10 1975-06-06 Guilliet Ets
USRE30233E (en) 1971-05-28 1980-03-18 The Mead Corporation Multiple layer decorated paper, laminate prepared therefrom and process
US3768846A (en) 1971-06-03 1973-10-30 R Hensley Interlocking joint
US3714747A (en) 1971-08-23 1973-02-06 Robertson Co H H Fastening means for double-skin foam core building panel
US3759007A (en) 1971-09-14 1973-09-18 Steel Corp Panel joint assembly with drainage cavity
SE372051B (en) 1971-11-22 1974-12-09 Ry Ab
DE2238660A1 (en) 1972-08-05 1974-02-07 Heinrich Hebgen FORMAL JOINT CONNECTION OF PANEL-SHAPED COMPONENTS WITHOUT SEPARATE CONNECTING ELEMENTS
DE2159042C3 (en) 1971-11-29 1974-04-18 Heinrich 6700 Ludwigshafen Hebgen Insulating board, in particular made of rigid plastic foam
DE2205232A1 (en) 1972-02-04 1973-08-16 Sen Fritz Krautkraemer Resilient flooring for gymnasiums and assembly halls - prefabricated load bearing upon elastic plates, is assembled easily and cheaply
US3859000A (en) * 1972-03-30 1975-01-07 Reynolds Metals Co Road construction and panel for making same
US3916965A (en) 1972-05-04 1975-11-04 William Earl Attridge Apparatus for edge-shaping boards
NO139933C (en) 1972-05-18 1979-06-06 Karl Hettich FINISHED PARQUET ELEMENT.
US3786608A (en) 1972-06-12 1974-01-22 W Boettcher Flooring sleeper assembly
GB1394621A (en) 1972-06-14 1975-05-21 Johns Manville Method of strengthening edges of fibrous sheet material
US3842562A (en) * 1972-10-24 1974-10-22 Larsen V Co Interlocking precast concrete slabs
DE2252643A1 (en) 1972-10-26 1974-05-02 Franz Buchmayer DEVICE FOR SEAMLESS CONNECTION OF COMPONENTS
US3988187A (en) 1973-02-06 1976-10-26 Atlantic Richfield Company Method of laying floor tile
US3902293A (en) 1973-02-06 1975-09-02 Atlantic Richfield Co Dimensionally-stable, resilient floor tile
GB1430423A (en) 1973-05-09 1976-03-31 Gkn Sankey Ltd Joint structure
SE372617B (en) * 1973-05-11 1974-12-23 Fagersta Ab
US3927705A (en) * 1973-08-16 1975-12-23 Industrial Woodworking Mach Methods and means for continuous vertical finger jointing lumber
US3936551A (en) 1974-01-30 1976-02-03 Armin Elmendorf Flexible wood floor covering
AT341738B (en) 1974-12-24 1978-02-27 Hoesch Werke Ag CONNECTING ELEMENT WITH SLOT AND SPRING CONNECTION
DE2502992A1 (en) 1975-01-25 1976-07-29 Geb Jahn Helga Tritschler Interlocking tent or other temporary floor panels - flat-surfaced with opposite shaped and counter-shaped bent sections
SE413641B (en) * 1975-02-19 1980-06-16 Skogsegarnas Vaenerind PROCEDURES AND DEVICE FOR CUTTING HOURS
FR2301648A1 (en) 1975-02-20 1976-09-17 Baeck En Jansen Pvba Wall units with profiled panels - have V and L shaped end profiles which connect to form clamped joint
US4099358A (en) 1975-08-18 1978-07-11 Intercontinental Truck Body - Montana, Inc. Interlocking panel sections
US4169688A (en) * 1976-03-15 1979-10-02 Sato Toshio Artificial skating-rink floor
DE2616077A1 (en) 1976-04-13 1977-10-27 Hans Josef Hewener Connecting web with flange for parquet floor - has pliable connecting web with flange held in floor plates to accommodate expansion and shrinking stresses
US4090338A (en) 1976-12-13 1978-05-23 B 3 L Parquet floor elements and parquet floor composed of such elements
SE414067B (en) 1977-03-30 1980-07-07 Wicanders Korkfabriker Ab DISCOVERED FLOOR ELEMENT WITH NOTE AND SPONGE FIT
JPS5759540Y2 (en) 1977-10-18 1982-12-20
US4230163A (en) * 1978-02-27 1980-10-28 Vermont Log Building, Inc. Log-planing machine
SE407174B (en) 1978-06-30 1979-03-19 Bahco Verktyg Ab TURNING HAND TOOLS WITH SHAFT HALL ROOM FOR STORAGE OF TOOL ELEMENT
DE2828769A1 (en) 1978-06-30 1980-01-03 Oltmanns Heinrich Fa BOX-SHAPED BUILDING BOARD MADE OF EXTRUDED PLASTIC
US4281696A (en) * 1978-08-07 1981-08-04 Aaron U. Jones Automatic sawmill method and apparatus
US4426820A (en) * 1979-04-24 1984-01-24 Heinz Terbrack Panel for a composite surface and a method of assembling same
DE2917025A1 (en) 1979-04-26 1980-11-27 Reynolds Aluminium France S A Detachable thin panel assembly - has overlapping bosses formed in edge strips and secured by clamping hook underneath
US4304083A (en) 1979-10-23 1981-12-08 H. H. Robertson Company Anchor element for panel joint
US4501102A (en) 1980-01-18 1985-02-26 James Knowles Composite wood beam and method of making same
DE3041781A1 (en) 1980-11-05 1982-06-24 Terbrack Kunststoff GmbH & Co KG, 4426 Vreden Skating or bowling rink tongue and groove panels - have tongue kink fitting trapezoid or half trapezium groove recess
JPS57119056U (en) 1981-01-16 1982-07-23
FI63100C (en) 1981-03-19 1988-12-05 Isora Oy bUILDING UNIT
SE8102693L (en) 1981-04-29 1982-10-30 Waco Jonsereds Ab SET AND MACHINE FOR MILLING WOODS FOR SPONTED PANEL
JPS6144334Y2 (en) 1981-05-21 1986-12-13
GB2117813A (en) 1982-04-06 1983-10-19 Leonid Ostrovsky Pivotal assembly of insulated wall panels
US4471012A (en) * 1982-05-19 1984-09-11 Masonite Corporation Square-edged laminated wood strip or plank materials
GB2126106A (en) 1982-07-14 1984-03-21 Sava Soc Alluminio Veneto Floor surface for fencing competitions
NO150850C (en) 1982-08-09 1985-01-09 Oskar Hovde TREE FLOOR FLOORS AND FLOOR PLANKS FOR PLANTS AT THE BASES OF SUCH A FLOOR
NO157871C (en) 1982-12-03 1988-06-01 Jan Carlsson COMBINATION OF BUILDING PLATES, EXAMPLE OF FLOORING PLATES.
SE450141B (en) 1982-12-03 1987-06-09 Jan Carlsson DEVICE FOR CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDING PLATES EXV FLOOR PLATES
DE3246376A1 (en) 1982-12-15 1984-06-20 Peter 7597 Rheinau Ballas Sheet-metal panels for covering walls or ceilings
US4489115A (en) 1983-02-16 1984-12-18 Superturf, Inc. Synthetic turf seam system
US4561233A (en) 1983-04-26 1985-12-31 Butler Manufacturing Company Wall panel
JPS59186336U (en) 1983-05-30 1984-12-11 ユンケアス・インドウストリ−ア・エ−エス floor
NZ208232A (en) 1983-05-30 1989-08-29 Ezijoin Pty Ltd Composite timber and channel steel reinforced beam including butt joint(s)
US4612074A (en) 1983-08-24 1986-09-16 American Biltrite Inc. Method for manufacturing a printed and embossed floor covering
DE3343601A1 (en) 1983-12-02 1985-06-13 Bütec Gesellschaft für bühnentechnische Einrichtungen mbH, 4010 Hilden Joining arrangement for rectangular boards
FR2561161B1 (en) 1984-03-14 1990-05-11 Rosa Sa Fermeture METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING GROOVED OR MOLDED BLADES SUCH AS SHUTTER BLADES, JOINERY OR BUILDING MOLDINGS AND DEVICE FOR CARRYING OUT SAID METHOD
FR2568295B1 (en) 1984-07-30 1986-10-17 Manon Gerard FLOOR TILE
AU566257B2 (en) 1985-01-10 1987-10-15 Hockney Pty Ltd Table top for lorry
DE3512204A1 (en) 1985-04-03 1986-10-16 Herbert 7530 Pforzheim Heinemann Cladding of exterior walls of buildings
US4630420A (en) 1985-05-13 1986-12-23 Rolscreen Company Door
EP0210285A1 (en) 1985-06-28 1987-02-04 Bengt Valdemar Eggemar Arena floor covering and element suited for composing the same
US4641469A (en) 1985-07-18 1987-02-10 Wood Edward F Prefabricated insulating panels
DE3538538A1 (en) 1985-10-30 1987-05-07 Peter Ballas PANEL FOR CLOTHING WALLS OR CEILINGS
DE3544845C2 (en) 1985-12-18 1996-12-12 Max Liebich Profile edge board for the production of wooden panels
SE8506018L (en) 1985-12-19 1987-06-20 Sunds Defibrator MANUFACTURING FIBER DISCS
US4715162A (en) 1986-01-06 1987-12-29 Trus Joist Corporation Wooden joist with web members having cut tapered edges and vent slots
DE8604004U1 (en) 1986-02-14 1986-04-30 Balsam Sportstättenbau GmbH & Co. KG, 4803 Steinhagen Removable sports flooring membrane
US4819932A (en) * 1986-02-28 1989-04-11 Trotter Jr Phil Aerobic exercise floor system
DE3631390A1 (en) 1986-05-27 1987-12-03 Edwin Kurz Tile
US4944514A (en) 1986-06-06 1990-07-31 Suitco Surface, Inc. Floor finishing material and method
US4769963A (en) 1987-07-09 1988-09-13 Structural Panels, Inc. Bonded panel interlock device
US4930386A (en) * 1987-12-10 1990-06-05 Wood-Mizer Products, Inc. Sawmill with hydraulically actuated components
US4845907A (en) 1987-12-28 1989-07-11 Meek John R Panel module
JPH01178659A (en) 1988-01-11 1989-07-14 Ibiden Co Ltd Floor material
US4831806A (en) 1988-02-29 1989-05-23 Robbins, Inc. Free floating floor system
FR2630149B1 (en) 1988-04-18 1993-03-26 Placoplatre Sa INSTALLATION ACCESSORY FOR COVERING PANEL, PARTICULARLY FLOOR PANEL
SU1680359A1 (en) 1988-08-29 1991-09-30 Petro V Grigorchak Apparatus for applying lacquer to edges of wood panels
FR2637932A1 (en) 1988-10-19 1990-04-20 Placoplatre Sa Covering panel, in particular floor panel
JP2777600B2 (en) 1989-01-13 1998-07-16 株式会社名南製作所 Manufacturing method of plywood with less distortion
SE8900291L (en) 1989-01-27 1990-07-28 Tillbal Ab PROFILFOEBINDNING
US5029425A (en) 1989-03-13 1991-07-09 Ciril Bogataj Stone cladding system for walls
US4905442A (en) 1989-03-17 1990-03-06 Wells Aluminum Corporation Latching joint coupling
US5148850A (en) * 1989-06-28 1992-09-22 Paneltech Ltd. Weatherproof continuous hinge connector for articulated vehicular overhead doors
JPH03169967A (en) 1989-11-27 1991-07-23 Matsushita Electric Works Ltd Set-laying floor material
DE4002547A1 (en) 1990-01-29 1991-08-01 Thermodach Dachtechnik Gmbh Jointed overlapping heat insulating plate - has mating corrugated faces on overlapping shoulders and covering strips
US5216861A (en) * 1990-02-15 1993-06-08 Structural Panels, Inc. Building panel and method
US5086599A (en) 1990-02-15 1992-02-11 Structural Panels, Inc. Building panel and method
NO169185C (en) * 1990-05-02 1992-05-20 Boen Bruk As SPRING SPORTS FLOOR
US5301340A (en) 1990-10-31 1994-04-05 International Business Machines Corporation IC chips including ALUs and identical register files whereby a number of ALUs directly and concurrently write results to every register file per cycle
US5113632A (en) 1990-11-07 1992-05-19 Woodline Manufacturing, Inc. Solid wood paneling system
SE469137B (en) 1990-11-09 1993-05-17 Oliver Sjoelander DEVICE FOR INSTALLATION OF FRONT COVER PLATE
US5117603A (en) 1990-11-26 1992-06-02 Weintraub Fred I Floorboards having patterned joint spacing and method
JP2804628B2 (en) 1990-11-27 1998-09-30 松下電工株式会社 Wood flooring
DE9016158U1 (en) 1990-11-28 1991-03-21 Wasa Massivholzmoebel Gmbh, 6751 Geiselberg, De
CA2036029C (en) * 1991-02-08 1994-06-21 Alexander V. Parasin Tongue and groove profile
GB2269839B (en) 1991-04-01 1995-06-07 Walter Lindal Wooden frame building construction
US5271564A (en) 1991-04-04 1993-12-21 Smith William C Spray gun extension
FR2675174A1 (en) 1991-04-12 1992-10-16 Lemasson Paul Construction element
US5179812A (en) 1991-05-13 1993-01-19 Flourlock (Uk) Limited Flooring product
GB2256023A (en) 1991-05-18 1992-11-25 Magnet Holdings Ltd Joint
US5744220A (en) * 1991-07-02 1998-04-28 Perstorp Ab Thermosetting laminate
DE4130115C2 (en) 1991-09-11 1996-09-19 Herbert Heinemann Facing element made of sheet metal
DE4134452A1 (en) 1991-10-18 1993-04-22 Helmut Sallinger Gmbh Sealing wooden floors - by applying filler compsn. of high solids content, then applying coating varnish contg. surface-active substance
JPH05148984A (en) 1991-11-29 1993-06-15 Sekisui Chem Co Ltd Outdoor floor board and fitting method thereof
US5349796A (en) 1991-12-20 1994-09-27 Structural Panels, Inc. Building panel and method
DK207191D0 (en) 1991-12-27 1991-12-27 Junckers As DEVICE FOR USE IN JOINING FLOORS
DE4215273C2 (en) 1992-05-09 1996-01-25 Dietmar Groeger Covering for covering floor, wall and / or ceiling surfaces, in particular in the manner of a belt floor
FR2691491A1 (en) 1992-05-19 1993-11-26 Geraud Pierre Temporary timber floor panel, e.g. for sporting or cultural events - has two or more connections on one edge with end projections which engage with recesses in panel's undersides
SE9201982D0 (en) * 1992-06-29 1992-06-29 Perstorp Flooring Ab CARTRIDGES, PROCEDURES FOR PREPARING THEM AND USING THEREOF
US5567497A (en) 1992-07-09 1996-10-22 Collins & Aikman Products Co. Skid-resistant floor covering and method of making same
US5295341A (en) 1992-07-10 1994-03-22 Nikken Seattle, Inc. Snap-together flooring system
US5474831A (en) 1992-07-13 1995-12-12 Nystrom; Ron Board for use in constructing a flooring surface
IT1257601B (en) 1992-07-21 1996-02-01 PROCESS PERFECTED FOR THE PREPARATION OF EDGES OF CHIPBOARD PANELS SUBSEQUENTLY TO BE COATED, AND PANEL SO OBTAINED
FR2697275B1 (en) 1992-10-28 1994-12-16 Creabat Floor covering of the tiling type and method of manufacturing a covering slab.
JP2550466B2 (en) 1992-11-02 1996-11-06 大建工業株式会社 Floor material
DE4242530C2 (en) 1992-12-16 1996-09-12 Walter Friedl Building element for walls, ceilings or roofs of buildings
JP2504430Y2 (en) 1993-01-07 1996-07-10 大建工業株式会社 Floor board
DE4313037C2 (en) 1993-04-21 1997-06-05 Pegulan Tarkett Ag Multi-layer thermoplastic polyolefin-based floor covering and process for its production
NL9301551A (en) 1993-05-07 1994-12-01 Hendrikus Johannes Schijf Panel, as well as hinge profile, which is suitable for such a panel, among other things.
US7121059B2 (en) 1994-04-29 2006-10-17 Valinge Innovation Ab System for joining building panels
US20020178674A1 (en) 1993-05-10 2002-12-05 Tony Pervan System for joining a building board
SE9301595L (en) 1993-05-10 1994-10-17 Tony Pervan Grout for thin liquid hard floors
SE509060C2 (en) 1996-12-05 1998-11-30 Valinge Aluminium Ab Method for manufacturing building board such as a floorboard
JP3362919B2 (en) 1993-05-17 2003-01-07 大建工業株式会社 Manufacturing method of building decorative materials
GB9310312D0 (en) 1993-05-19 1993-06-30 Edinburgh Acoustical Co Ltd Floor construction (buildings)
US5540025A (en) * 1993-05-29 1996-07-30 Daiken Trade & Industry Co., Ltd. Flooring material for building
NL9301469A (en) 1993-08-24 1995-03-16 Menno Van Gulik Floor element.
FR2712329B1 (en) 1993-11-08 1996-06-07 Pierre Geraud Removable parquet element.
DE9317191U1 (en) 1993-11-10 1995-03-16 Faist M Gmbh & Co Kg Insulation board made of thermally insulating insulation materials
KR960005785B1 (en) 1993-12-08 1996-05-01 주식회사두발가스 엔지니어링 Heat pipes of heat exchanger
JP3363976B2 (en) 1993-12-24 2003-01-08 ミサワホーム株式会社 Construction structure of flooring
DE4402352A1 (en) 1994-01-27 1995-08-31 Dlw Ag Plate-shaped floor element and method for its production
JP3461569B2 (en) 1994-05-02 2003-10-27 大建工業株式会社 Floor material
US5570554A (en) 1994-05-16 1996-11-05 Fas Industries, Inc. Interlocking stapled flooring
US5587218A (en) * 1994-05-18 1996-12-24 Betz; Richard T. Surface covering
JP2816424B2 (en) 1994-05-18 1998-10-27 大建工業株式会社 Architectural flooring
FR2721957B1 (en) 1994-06-29 1996-09-20 Geraud Pierre WOOD LATCH
US5497589A (en) 1994-07-12 1996-03-12 Porter; William H. Structural insulated panels with metal edges
US5502939A (en) 1994-07-28 1996-04-02 Elite Panel Products Interlocking panels having flats for increased versatility
JP2978403B2 (en) 1994-10-13 1999-11-15 ナショナル住宅産業株式会社 Wood floor joint structure
US6898911B2 (en) 1997-04-25 2005-05-31 Pergo (Europe) Ab Floor strip
US5496648A (en) 1994-11-04 1996-03-05 Held; Russell K. Formable composite laminates with cellulose-containing polymer resin sheets
SE503973C2 (en) 1994-12-13 1996-10-07 Dan Johansson Ways to lay floors where the floorboards are coated with a friction layer
US6148884A (en) 1995-01-17 2000-11-21 Triangle Pacific Corp. Low profile hardwood flooring strip and method of manufacture
US5597024A (en) 1995-01-17 1997-01-28 Triangle Pacific Corporation Low profile hardwood flooring strip and method of manufacture
SE503917C2 (en) 1995-01-30 1996-09-30 Golvabia Ab Device for joining by means of groove and chip of adjacent pieces of flooring material and a flooring material composed of a number of smaller pieces
SE502994E (en) 1995-03-07 1999-04-28 Perstorp Flooring Ab Floorboard with groove and springs and supplementary locking means
US6421970B1 (en) 1995-03-07 2002-07-23 Perstorp Flooring Ab Flooring panel or wall panel and use thereof
SE9500810D0 (en) 1995-03-07 1995-03-07 Perstorp Flooring Ab Floor tile
US7131242B2 (en) 1995-03-07 2006-11-07 Pergo (Europe) Ab Flooring panel or wall panel and use thereof
US5943239A (en) 1995-03-22 1999-08-24 Alpine Engineered Products, Inc. Methods and apparatus for orienting power saws in a sawing system
US5618602A (en) 1995-03-22 1997-04-08 Wilsonart Int Inc Articles with tongue and groove joint and method of making such a joint
SE507235C2 (en) 1995-03-28 1998-04-27 Tarkett Ab Ways to prepare a building element for the manufacture of a laminated wooden floor
US5560569A (en) 1995-04-06 1996-10-01 Lockheed Corporation Aircraft thermal protection system
JPH0938906A (en) 1995-07-26 1997-02-10 Matsushita Electric Works Ltd Floor board
JPH0988315A (en) 1995-09-26 1997-03-31 Matsushita Electric Works Ltd Floor material
US5830549A (en) 1995-11-03 1998-11-03 Triangle Pacific Corporation Glue-down prefinished flooring product
DE29517995U1 (en) 1995-11-14 1996-02-01 Witex Ag Floor element, in particular laminate panel or cassette made of a wood-based panel
BR7502683U (en) 1995-11-24 1996-04-09 Jacob Abrahams Constructive arrangements in joints of strips for laminate floors or ceilings
CH690242A5 (en) 1995-12-19 2000-06-15 Schreinerei Anderegg Ag Structural component of compound material with elongated and surface extension is particularly for formation of width union, applying especially to boards and planks
US5630304A (en) 1995-12-28 1997-05-20 Austin; John Adjustable interlock floor tile
DE29601133U1 (en) 1996-01-24 1996-03-07 Witex Ag Installation tool for wood and laminate floors as a pulling iron with a pulling tongue that grips behind the edge of the floor covering
US5954915A (en) * 1996-05-24 1999-09-21 Voorwood Company Surface finishing apparatus
BE1010339A3 (en) 1996-06-11 1998-06-02 Unilin Beheer Bv Floor covering comprising hard floor panels and method for producing them
US6203653B1 (en) 1996-09-18 2001-03-20 Marc A. Seidner Method of making engineered mouldings
US5671575A (en) * 1996-10-21 1997-09-30 Wu; Chang-Pen Flooring assembly
DE29618318U1 (en) 1996-10-22 1997-04-03 Mrochen Joachim Cladding panel
SE507737C2 (en) 1996-11-08 1998-07-06 Golvabia Ab Device for joining of flooring material
SE508165C2 (en) 1996-11-18 1998-09-07 Golvabia Ab Device for joining of flooring material
SE509059C2 (en) 1996-12-05 1998-11-30 Valinge Aluminium Ab Method and equipment for making a building board, such as a floorboard
DE19651149A1 (en) 1996-12-10 1998-06-18 Loba Gmbh & Co Kg Method of protecting edge of floor covering tiles
IT242498Y1 (en) 1996-12-19 2001-06-14 Margaritelli Italia Spa FLOORING LISTONE CONSTITUTED BY A LIST IN PRECIOUS WOOD AND A SPECIAL MULTILAYER SUPPORT IN WHICH THE LAYERS PREVAL
US5768850A (en) 1997-02-04 1998-06-23 Chen; Alen Method for erecting floor boards and a board assembly using the method
JPH10219975A (en) 1997-02-07 1998-08-18 Juken Sangyo Co Ltd Setting structure of setting laying floor material
SE9700671L (en) 1997-02-26 1997-11-24 Tarkett Ab Parquet flooring bar to form a floor with fishbone pattern
US5797237A (en) 1997-02-28 1998-08-25 Standard Plywoods, Incorporated Flooring system
DE19709641C2 (en) 1997-03-08 2002-05-02 Akzenta Paneele & Profile Gmbh Surface covering made of tabular panels
US5925211A (en) 1997-04-21 1999-07-20 International Paper Company Low pressure melamine/veneer panel and method of making the same
ATE272770T1 (en) 1997-04-22 2004-08-15 Mondo Spa MULTI-LAYER FLOORING, ESPECIALLY FOR ATHLETIC FACILITIES
DE19718319C2 (en) 1997-04-30 2000-06-21 Erich Manko Parquet element
DE19718812A1 (en) 1997-05-05 1998-11-12 Akzenta Paneele & Profile Gmbh Floor panel with bar pattern formed by wood veneer layer
US5987839A (en) 1997-05-20 1999-11-23 Hamar; Douglas J Multi-panel activity floor with fixed hinge connections
AT405560B (en) 1997-06-18 1999-09-27 Kaindl M ARRANGEMENT OF COMPONENTS AND COMPONENTS
US5935668A (en) 1997-08-04 1999-08-10 Triangle Pacific Corporation Wooden flooring strip with enhanced flexibility and straightness
BE1011466A6 (en) 1997-09-22 1999-10-05 Unilin Beheer Bv Floor part, method for manufacturing of such floor part and device used hereby.
DE29803708U1 (en) 1997-10-04 1998-05-28 Shen Technical Company Ltd Panel, in particular for floor coverings
DE19854475B4 (en) 1997-11-25 2006-06-14 Premark RWP Holdings, Inc., Wilmington Locking area coverage product
US6139945A (en) 1997-11-25 2000-10-31 Premark Rwp Holdings, Inc. Polymeric foam substrate and its use as in combination with decorative surfaces
US6324809B1 (en) 1997-11-25 2001-12-04 Premark Rwp Holdings, Inc. Article with interlocking edges and covering product prepared therefrom
US6345481B1 (en) 1997-11-25 2002-02-12 Premark Rwp Holdings, Inc. Article with interlocking edges and covering product prepared therefrom
US5968625A (en) 1997-12-15 1999-10-19 Hudson; Dewey V. Laminated wood products
SE513151C2 (en) 1998-02-04 2000-07-17 Perstorp Flooring Ab Guide heel at the joint including groove and spring
DE69837524T2 (en) 1998-02-09 2007-12-20 Vsl International Ag Method for producing an anchoring, anchoring part and tensioning element for this purpose
CO4870729A1 (en) 1998-02-09 1999-12-27 Steven C Meyerson CONSTRUCTION PANELS
US6173548B1 (en) 1998-05-20 2001-01-16 Douglas J. Hamar Portable multi-section activity floor and method of manufacture and installation
SE512290C2 (en) 1998-06-03 2000-02-28 Valinge Aluminium Ab Locking system for mechanical joining of floorboards and floorboard provided with the locking system
SE512313C2 (en) 1998-06-03 2000-02-28 Valinge Aluminium Ab Locking system and floorboard
FR2781513B1 (en) 1998-07-22 2004-07-30 Polystar TILE-TYPE SURFACE ELEMENT, FLOOR PANEL, WALL, ROOF FOR EXAMPLE
BE1012141A6 (en) 1998-07-24 2000-05-02 Unilin Beheer Bv FLOOR COVERING, FLOOR PANEL THEREFOR AND METHOD for the realization of such floor panel.
EP0976889A1 (en) 1998-07-28 2000-02-02 Kronospan AG Coupling member for panels for forming a floor covering
CA2343815C (en) 1998-09-11 2009-01-20 Robbins, Inc. Floorboard with compression nub
US6119423A (en) 1998-09-14 2000-09-19 Costantino; John Apparatus and method for installing hardwood floors
SE515789C2 (en) 1999-02-10 2001-10-08 Perstorp Flooring Ab Floor covering material comprising floor elements which are intended to be joined vertically
SE514645C2 (en) 1998-10-06 2001-03-26 Perstorp Flooring Ab Floor covering material comprising disc-shaped floor elements intended to be joined by separate joint profiles
SE513189C2 (en) 1998-10-06 2000-07-24 Perstorp Flooring Ab Vertically mountable floor covering material comprising sheet-shaped floor elements which are joined together by means of separate joint profiles
DE19851200C1 (en) 1998-11-06 2000-03-30 Kronotex Gmbh Holz Und Kunstha Floor panel has a tongue and groove joint between panels with additional projections and recesses at the underside of the tongue and the lower leg of the groove for a sealed joint with easy laying
FR2785633B1 (en) 1998-11-09 2001-02-09 Valerie Roy COVERING PANEL FOR PARQUET, WOODEN PANEL OR THE LIKE
JP3011930B1 (en) 1998-12-11 2000-02-21 積水化学工業株式会社 Construction method of floorboard
US6134854A (en) 1998-12-18 2000-10-24 Perstorp Ab Glider bar for flooring system
CA2289309A1 (en) 1999-01-18 2000-07-18 Premark Rwp Holdings, Inc. System and method for improving water resistance of laminate flooring
JP2000226932A (en) 1999-02-08 2000-08-15 Daiken Trade & Ind Co Ltd Ligneous decorative floor material and combination thereof
IT1307424B1 (en) 1999-04-29 2001-11-06 Costa S P A A METHOD FOR PROFILING STRIPS FOR PARQUET AND SQUARING MACHINE SUITABLE TO CREATE SUCH METHOD.
SE517478C2 (en) 1999-04-30 2002-06-11 Valinge Aluminium Ab Locking system for mechanical hoisting of floorboards, floorboard provided with the locking system and method for producing mechanically foldable floorboards
DE19925248C2 (en) 1999-06-01 2002-11-14 Schulte Johannes floorboard
KR100409016B1 (en) 1999-06-26 2003-12-11 주식회사 엘지화학 Decorative flooring with polyester film as surface layer and method of preparing the same
DE29911462U1 (en) 1999-07-02 1999-11-18 Akzenta Paneele & Profile Gmbh Fastening system for panels
SE517009C2 (en) 1999-07-05 2002-04-02 Perstorp Flooring Ab Floor element with controls
AT413227B (en) 1999-07-23 2005-12-15 Kaindl M PANEL OR LUMINOUS COMPONENTS OR ARRANGEMENT WITH SUCH COMPONENTS AND CLAMPS HIEFÜR
US7169460B1 (en) 1999-12-14 2007-01-30 Mannington Mills, Inc. Thermoplastic planks and methods for making the same
US6617009B1 (en) 1999-12-14 2003-09-09 Mannington Mills, Inc. Thermoplastic planks and methods for making the same
US6761008B2 (en) 1999-12-14 2004-07-13 Mannington Mills, Inc. Connecting system for surface coverings
US7763345B2 (en) 1999-12-14 2010-07-27 Mannington Mills, Inc. Thermoplastic planks and methods for making the same
JP4914532B2 (en) 1999-12-17 2012-04-11 大建工業株式会社 Decorative flooring
US6722809B2 (en) 1999-12-23 2004-04-20 Hamberger Industriewerke Gmbh Joint
AU4743800A (en) 1999-12-23 2001-07-09 Hamberger Industriewerke Gmbh Joint
US6332733B1 (en) * 1999-12-23 2001-12-25 Hamberger Industriewerke Gmbh Joint
DE19963203A1 (en) 1999-12-27 2001-09-20 Kunnemeyer Hornitex Plate section, especially a laminate floor plate, consists of a lignocellulose containing material with a coated surface and an edge impregnation agent
DE29922649U1 (en) 1999-12-27 2000-03-23 Kronospan Tech Co Ltd Panel with plug profile
SI20592A (en) 1999-12-27 2001-12-31 Kronospan Technical Company Limited, Cyprus Panel with a shaped plug-in section
JP3860373B2 (en) 1999-12-27 2006-12-20 大建工業株式会社 Production method of wooden flooring
DE10001076C1 (en) 2000-01-13 2001-10-04 Huelsta Werke Huels Kg Panel element to construct floor covering; has groove and spring on opposite longitudinal sides and has groove and tongue on opposite end faces, to connect and secure adjacent panel elements
DE10001248A1 (en) 2000-01-14 2001-07-19 Kunnemeyer Hornitex Profile for releasable connection of floorboards has tongue and groove connection closing in horizontal and vertical directions
DE20001225U1 (en) 2000-01-14 2000-07-27 Kunnemeyer Hornitex Profile for the form-fitting, glue-free and removable connection of floorboards, panels or similar components
EP1120515A1 (en) 2000-01-27 2001-08-01 Triax N.V. A combined set comprising a locking member and at least two building panels
DE20017461U1 (en) 2000-02-23 2001-02-15 Kronotec Ag Floor panel
DE10008166C2 (en) 2000-02-23 2003-04-24 Kronotec Ag floor panel
RU2241811C2 (en) 2000-03-07 2004-12-10 Е.Ф.П. Флор Продактс Фусбеден Гмбх Mechanical joint for panels
JP3497437B2 (en) 2000-03-09 2004-02-16 東洋テックス株式会社 Manufacturing method of building decorative flooring
JP2001260107A (en) 2000-03-21 2001-09-25 Uchiyama Mfg Corp Floor material and its manufacturing method
DE20006143U1 (en) 2000-04-04 2000-07-13 Schulte Johannes Tapping block for use when laying floor boards
US6363677B1 (en) 2000-04-10 2002-04-02 Mannington Mills, Inc. Surface covering system and methods of installing same
DE20008708U1 (en) 2000-05-16 2000-09-14 Kronospan Tech Co Ltd Panels with coupling agents
FR2810060A1 (en) 2000-06-08 2001-12-14 Ykk France Wooden floor paneling, for parquet floor, has elastic strip with lateral flanges forming stop faces for recessed surfaces on panels
DE10031639C2 (en) 2000-06-29 2002-08-14 Hw Ind Gmbh & Co Kg Floor plate
EP1167653B1 (en) 2000-06-30 2004-09-08 Kronotec Ag Method for laying floor panels
DE10032204C1 (en) 2000-07-01 2001-07-19 Hw Ind Gmbh & Co Kg Wooden or wood fiber edge-jointed floor tiles are protected by having their edges impregnated with composition containing e.g. fungicide, insecticide, bactericide, pesticide or disinfectant
DE10034407C1 (en) 2000-07-14 2001-10-31 Kronotec Ag A panel, for use as laminate flooring, comprises a core made from a wooden material having an insulating material on its inner side, fixed using glued strips running in the transverse direction
WO2002006041A1 (en) 2000-07-17 2002-01-24 Anderson-Tully Engineered Wood, L.L.C. Veneer face plywood flooring and methods of making the same
US7374808B2 (en) 2000-07-21 2008-05-20 Milliken & Company Patterned bonded carpet and method
US6339908B1 (en) 2000-07-21 2002-01-22 Fu-Ming Chuang Wood floor board assembly
DE20013380U1 (en) 2000-08-01 2000-11-16 Kunnemeyer Hornitex Laying aid
DE10057901C2 (en) 2000-11-22 2002-11-14 Kronotec Ag Panel, especially floor panel
US6546691B2 (en) 2000-12-13 2003-04-15 Kronospan Technical Company Ltd. Method of laying panels
US20020076009A1 (en) 2000-12-15 2002-06-20 Denenberg Lawrence A. International dialing using spoken commands
DE10101202B4 (en) 2001-01-11 2007-11-15 Witex Ag parquet board
NZ527355A (en) 2001-01-12 2005-09-30 Valinge Aluminium Ab Tongue and groove jointing and locking system for floor boards
US6769218B2 (en) * 2001-01-12 2004-08-03 Valinge Aluminium Ab Floorboard and locking system therefor
DE10101912C1 (en) 2001-01-16 2002-03-14 Johannes Schulte Rectangular floor panel laying method uses fitting wedge for movement of floor panel in longitudinal and transverse directions for interlocking with adjacent floor panel and previous floor panel row
US20020100231A1 (en) 2001-01-26 2002-08-01 Miller Robert J. Textured laminate flooring
DE10103505B4 (en) 2001-01-26 2008-06-26 Pergo (Europe) Ab Floor or wall panel
SE520084C2 (en) 2001-01-31 2003-05-20 Pergo Europ Ab Procedure for making merge profiles
JP2002276139A (en) 2001-03-12 2002-09-25 Nippon Paper Industries Co Ltd Wooden decorative floor material having surface grooves formed therein
FI112187B (en) 2001-05-11 2003-11-14 Paroc Group Oy Ab Process for making a sandwich element
US20020170257A1 (en) 2001-05-16 2002-11-21 Mclain Darren Andrew Decorative wood surfaces
FR2825397B1 (en) 2001-06-01 2004-10-22 Tarkett Sommer Sa FLOOR COVERING ELEMENT (S)
DE20109840U1 (en) 2001-06-17 2001-09-06 Kronospan Tech Co Ltd Plates with push-in profile
US20020189183A1 (en) 2001-06-19 2002-12-19 Ricciardelli Thomas E. Decorative interlocking tile
US20040211144A1 (en) 2001-06-27 2004-10-28 Stanchfield Oliver O. Flooring panel or wall panel and use thereof
EP1251219A1 (en) 2001-07-11 2002-10-23 Kronotec Ag Method for laying and locking floor panels
SE519791C2 (en) 2001-07-27 2003-04-08 Valinge Aluminium Ab System for forming a joint between two floorboards, floorboards therefore provided with sealing means at the joint edges and ways of manufacturing a core which is processed into floorboards
US8028486B2 (en) 2001-07-27 2011-10-04 Valinge Innovation Ab Floor panel with sealing means
DE10138285A1 (en) 2001-08-10 2003-03-06 Akzenta Paneele & Profile Gmbh Panel and fastening system for panels
US6684592B2 (en) 2001-08-13 2004-02-03 Ron Martin Interlocking floor panels
BE1014345A3 (en) 2001-08-14 2003-09-02 Unilin Beheer Bv Floor panel and method for manufacturing it.
DE10159581C1 (en) 2001-12-05 2003-06-26 Parkett Hinterseer Gmbh Device for the production of upright lamella parquet of small thickness
CA2369602A1 (en) 2002-01-29 2003-07-29 Levanna Schwartz Floor panel for finished floors
DE10206877B4 (en) * 2002-02-18 2004-02-05 E.F.P. Floor Products Fussböden GmbH Panel, especially floor panel
GB0204390D0 (en) 2002-02-26 2002-04-10 Eastman Kodak Co A method and system for coating
AU2002254932A1 (en) 2002-03-07 2003-09-16 Fritz Egger Gmbh And Co. Panels provided with a friction-based fixing
SE525657C2 (en) 2002-04-08 2005-03-29 Vaelinge Innovation Ab Flooring boards for floating floors made of at least two different layers of material and semi-finished products for the manufacture of floorboards
DE20205538U1 (en) 2002-04-10 2002-07-04 Ico Gmbh Floor covering profile with latching
DE20205774U1 (en) 2002-04-13 2002-08-14 Kronospan Tech Co Ltd Panels with rubberized edging
US7051486B2 (en) 2002-04-15 2006-05-30 Valinge Aluminium Ab Mechanical locking system for floating floor
US8850769B2 (en) 2002-04-15 2014-10-07 Valinge Innovation Ab Floorboards for floating floors
RU2315157C2 (en) 2002-04-22 2008-01-20 Велинге Инновейшн Аб Floor boarding and rectangular board for floor forming
DE20206460U1 (en) 2002-04-24 2002-07-11 Hw Ind Gmbh & Co Kg Parquet or plank flooring
ITUD20020110A1 (en) 2002-05-23 2003-11-24 Delle Vedove Levigatrici Spa APPARATUS AND PROCESS FOR PAINTING OBJECTS SUCH AS PROFILES, PANELS, OR SIMILAR
US20030221387A1 (en) 2002-05-28 2003-12-04 Kumud Shah Laminated indoor flooring board and method of making same
DE10224540B4 (en) 2002-05-31 2007-03-08 Kronotec Ag floor panel
DE10232508C1 (en) 2002-07-18 2003-12-18 Kronotec Ag Interlocking flooring panel has groove formed along or adjacent one side edge for preventing moisture penetrating joint between adjacent flooring panels
AU2002950813A0 (en) 2002-08-09 2002-09-12 Hexagon International Pty Ltd Modular decking tile
US20040031225A1 (en) 2002-08-14 2004-02-19 Gregory Fowler Water resistant tongue and groove flooring
US7441384B2 (en) 2002-08-14 2008-10-28 Columbia Insurance Company Pre-glued tongue and groove flooring
FR2846023B1 (en) 2002-10-18 2005-08-05 Alsapan CENTRAL OR PERIPHERAL LOW COATING PANELS OBTAINED BY COMPRESSION
US7617651B2 (en) 2002-11-12 2009-11-17 Kronotec Ag Floor panel
DE10255379A1 (en) 2002-11-27 2004-06-24 GLÖCKL, Josef floor construction
PL191233B1 (en) 2002-12-31 2006-04-28 Barlinek Sa Floor panel
US20040206036A1 (en) 2003-02-24 2004-10-21 Valinge Aluminium Ab Floorboard and method for manufacturing thereof
US7845140B2 (en) 2003-03-06 2010-12-07 Valinge Innovation Ab Flooring and method for installation and manufacturing thereof
SE526691C2 (en) 2003-03-18 2005-10-25 Pergo Europ Ab Panel joint with friction raising means at longitudinal side joint
DE10316695B4 (en) 2003-04-10 2006-12-28 Theodor Hymmen Holding Gmbh Method and device for producing a laminate
DE20307580U1 (en) 2003-05-15 2003-07-10 Schulte Fuehres Josef Floorboard, has stone covering supported on layer provided with interlocking tongues, grooves, channels and beads on its length and width sides
BE1015550A5 (en) 2003-06-04 2005-06-07 Flooring Ind Ltd FLOOR PANEL AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING SUCH FLOOR PANEL.
BE1015760A6 (en) 2003-06-04 2005-08-02 Flooring Ind Ltd Laminated floorboard has a decorative overlay and color product components inserted into recesses which, together, give a variety of visual wood effects
US6922965B2 (en) * 2003-07-25 2005-08-02 Ilinois Tool Works Inc. Bonded interlocking flooring
US6966963B2 (en) 2003-07-31 2005-11-22 O'connor Investment Corporation Method of applying a covering for boards
US7886497B2 (en) 2003-12-02 2011-02-15 Valinge Innovation Ab Floorboard, system and method for forming a flooring, and a flooring formed thereof
USD528671S1 (en) 2003-12-17 2006-09-19 Kronotec Ag Building board
US20050166516A1 (en) 2004-01-13 2005-08-04 Valinge Aluminium Ab Floor covering and locking systems
DE202004001037U1 (en) 2004-01-24 2004-04-29 Kronotec Ag Panel, in particular floor panel
DE202004001038U1 (en) 2004-01-24 2004-04-08 Delle Vedove Maschinenbau Gmbh Tandem piston Schmelzer
US7070370B2 (en) 2004-02-06 2006-07-04 Brooks Louis R Workpiece beveling machine
DE102004006569B4 (en) 2004-02-11 2006-01-19 Delle Vedove Maschinenbau Gmbh Device for wrapping profile material
DE102004011531C5 (en) 2004-03-08 2014-03-06 Kronotec Ag Wood-based panel, in particular floor panel
ITUD20040101A1 (en) 2004-05-17 2004-08-17 Delle Vedove Levigatrici Spa MACHINE TO FINISH AN OBJECT SUCH AS A PROFILE, A PANEL, OR SIMILAR
ITUD20040130A1 (en) 2004-06-22 2004-09-22 Delle Vedove Levigatrici Spa EQUIPMENT FOR COATING AN OBJECT SUCH AS A PROFILE, A PANEL, OR SIMILAR
US7841144B2 (en) 2005-03-30 2010-11-30 Valinge Innovation Ab Mechanical locking system for panels and method of installing same
EP1650375B2 (en) 2004-10-22 2010-12-22 Välinge Innovation AB A set of floor panels
DE102004054368A1 (en) 2004-11-10 2006-05-11 Kaindl Flooring Gmbh trim panel
DE102005005339A1 (en) 2005-01-27 2006-08-10 Hd Wood Technologies Ltd. Process for veneer production
US8215078B2 (en) 2005-02-15 2012-07-10 Välinge Innovation Belgium BVBA Building panel with compressed edges and method of making same
DE202005006300U1 (en) 2005-04-19 2005-07-07 Delle Vedove Maschinenbau Gmbh Adhesive melter with slot jet applicator for applying adhesive has pump with filter and jet rod fitted compactly in heat conducting block
DE202005006368U1 (en) 2005-04-20 2005-06-30 Nordson Corporation, Westlake Applicator for applying fluid to contour of substrate, e.g. for floor covering panel manufacture, has transfer wheel with axially-tapered fluid-conveying surface
US8061104B2 (en) 2005-05-20 2011-11-22 Valinge Innovation Ab Mechanical locking system for floor panels
US8021014B2 (en) 2006-01-10 2011-09-20 Valinge Innovation Ab Floor light
SE530653C2 (en) 2006-01-12 2008-07-29 Vaelinge Innovation Ab Moisture-proof floor board and floor with an elastic surface layer including a decorative groove
US7854100B2 (en) 2006-01-12 2010-12-21 Valinge Innovation Ab Laminate floor panels
US8464489B2 (en) 2006-01-12 2013-06-18 Valinge Innovation Ab Laminate floor panels
SE533410C2 (en) 2006-07-11 2010-09-14 Vaelinge Innovation Ab Floor panels with mechanical locking systems with a flexible and slidable tongue as well as heavy therefore
US7861482B2 (en) 2006-07-14 2011-01-04 Valinge Innovation Ab Locking system comprising a combination lock for panels
US8323016B2 (en) 2006-09-15 2012-12-04 Valinge Innovation Belgium Bvba Device and method for compressing an edge of a building panel and a building panel with compressed edges
US8689512B2 (en) 2006-11-15 2014-04-08 Valinge Innovation Ab Mechanical locking of floor panels with vertical folding
SE531111C2 (en) 2006-12-08 2008-12-23 Vaelinge Innovation Ab Mechanical locking of floor panels
JP4462261B2 (en) 2006-12-08 2010-05-12 パナソニック電工株式会社 Electric razor
US8353140B2 (en) 2007-11-07 2013-01-15 Valinge Innovation Ab Mechanical locking of floor panels with vertical snap folding
JP5763096B2 (en) 2009-12-17 2015-08-12 ベーリンゲ、イノベイション、アクチボラグVaelinge Innovation Ab Method and configuration for surface formation of building panels
US8763340B2 (en) 2011-08-15 2014-07-01 Valinge Flooring Technology Ab Mechanical locking system for floor panels

Patent Citations (99)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3125138A (en) * 1964-03-17 Gang saw for improved tongue and groove
US301147A (en) * 1884-07-01 Process for preparing old steel for reworking
US1124228A (en) * 1913-02-28 1915-01-05 Ross Houston Matched flooring or board.
US1371856A (en) * 1919-04-15 1921-03-15 Robert S Cade Concrete paving-slab
US1407679A (en) * 1921-05-31 1922-02-21 William E Ruthrauff Flooring construction
US1454250A (en) * 1921-11-17 1923-05-08 William A Parsons Parquet flooring
US1540128A (en) * 1922-12-28 1925-06-02 Houston Ross Composite unit for flooring and the like and method for making same
US1575821A (en) * 1925-03-13 1926-03-09 John Alexander Hugh Cameron Parquet-floor composite sections
US1660480A (en) * 1925-03-13 1928-02-28 Daniels Ernest Stuart Parquet-floor panels
US1615096A (en) * 1925-09-21 1927-01-18 Joseph J R Meyers Floor and ceiling construction
US1622104A (en) * 1926-11-06 1927-03-22 John C King Lumber Company Block flooring and process of making the same
US1953360A (en) * 1927-11-10 1934-04-03 Massey Harris Co Tractor
US1718702A (en) * 1928-03-30 1929-06-25 M B Farrin Lumber Company Composite panel and attaching device therefor
US1714738A (en) * 1928-06-11 1929-05-28 Arthur R Smith Flooring and the like
US1790178A (en) * 1928-08-06 1931-01-27 Jr Daniel Manson Sutherland Fibre board and its manufacture
US1764331A (en) * 1929-02-23 1930-06-17 Paul O Moratz Matched hardwood flooring
US1809393A (en) * 1929-05-09 1931-06-09 Byrd C Rockwell Inlay floor construction
US1898364A (en) * 1930-02-24 1933-02-21 George S Gynn Flooring construction
US1859667A (en) * 1930-05-14 1932-05-24 J K Gruner Lumber Company Jointed lumber
US1906411A (en) * 1930-12-29 1933-05-02 Potvin Frederick Peter Wood flooring
US1988201A (en) * 1931-04-15 1935-01-15 Julius R Hall Reenforced flooring and method
US2042160A (en) * 1933-02-10 1936-05-26 Gen Steel Castings Corp Wheel
US1986739A (en) * 1934-02-06 1935-01-01 Walter F Mitte Nail-on brick
US2276071A (en) * 1939-01-25 1942-03-10 Johns Manville Panel construction
US2324628A (en) * 1941-02-07 1943-07-20 Kahr Gustaf Composite board structure
US2398632A (en) * 1944-05-08 1946-04-16 United States Gypsum Co Building element
US2460200A (en) * 1944-11-18 1949-01-25 Pure Oil Co Thermal conversion of hydrocarbons
US2495862A (en) * 1945-03-10 1950-01-31 Emery S Osborn Building construction of predetermined characteristics
US2497837A (en) * 1947-09-27 1950-02-14 Non Skid Surfacing Corp Board for flooring and the like
US2780253A (en) * 1950-06-02 1957-02-05 Curt G Joa Self-centering feed rolls for a dowel machine or the like
US2740200A (en) * 1952-03-06 1956-04-03 West Point Mfg Co Apparatus for testing thickness of material
US3045294A (en) * 1956-03-22 1962-07-24 Jr William F Livezey Method and apparatus for laying floors
US2894292A (en) * 1957-03-21 1959-07-14 Jasper Wood Crafters Inc Combination sub-floor and top floor
US3120083A (en) * 1960-04-04 1964-02-04 Bigelow Sanford Inc Carpet or floor tiles
US3182769A (en) * 1961-05-04 1965-05-11 Reynolds Metals Co Interlocking constructions and parts therefor or the like
US3247638A (en) * 1963-05-22 1966-04-26 James W Fair Interlocking tile carpet
US3310919A (en) * 1964-10-02 1967-03-28 Sico Inc Portable floor
US3508523A (en) * 1967-05-15 1970-04-28 Plywood Research Foundation Apparatus for applying adhesive to wood stock
US3377931A (en) * 1967-05-26 1968-04-16 Ralph W. Hilton Plank for modular load bearing surfaces such as aircraft landing mats
US3579941A (en) * 1968-11-19 1971-05-25 Howard C Tibbals Wood parquet block flooring unit
US3738404A (en) * 1971-02-22 1973-06-12 W Walker Method of producing dressed lumber from logs
US3729368A (en) * 1971-04-21 1973-04-24 Ingham & Co Ltd R E Wood-plastic sheet laminate and method of making same
US4028450A (en) * 1972-12-26 1977-06-07 Gould Walter M Method of molding a composite synthetic roofing structure
US4084996A (en) * 1974-07-15 1978-04-18 Wood Processes, Oregon Ltd. Method of making a grooved, fiber-clad plywood panel
US4196554A (en) * 1977-08-27 1980-04-08 H. H. Robertson Company Roof panel joint
US4567706A (en) * 1983-08-03 1986-02-04 United States Gypsum Company Edge attachment clip for wall panels
US4567690A (en) * 1983-11-10 1986-02-04 Murrell K Dale Selectively closed modular cultivation apparatus
US4648165A (en) * 1984-11-09 1987-03-10 Whitehorne Gary R Metal frame (spring puller)
US4822440A (en) * 1987-11-04 1989-04-18 Nvf Company Crossband and crossbanding
US5213861A (en) * 1991-09-04 1993-05-25 Severson Thomas A Wooden tile and method for making same
US5286545A (en) * 1991-12-18 1994-02-15 Southern Resin, Inc. Laminated wooden board product
US5425986A (en) * 1992-07-21 1995-06-20 Masco Corporation High pressure laminate structure
US5274979A (en) * 1992-12-22 1994-01-04 Tsai Jui Hsing Insulating plate unit
US5613894A (en) * 1993-12-30 1997-03-25 Delle Vedove Levigatrici Spa Method to hone curved and shaped profiles and honing machine to carry out such method
US5899251A (en) * 1995-01-16 1999-05-04 Turner; Allan William Wood machineable joint
US5755068A (en) * 1995-11-17 1998-05-26 Ormiston; Fred I. Veneer panels and method of making
US6189283B1 (en) * 1995-12-05 2001-02-20 Sico Incorporated Portable floor
US20040068955A1 (en) * 1996-03-19 2004-04-15 Kinya Aota Friction stir welding hollow frame member
US20030024200A1 (en) * 1996-06-11 2003-02-06 Unilin Beheer B.V., Besloten Vennootschap Floor panels with edge connectors
US6874292B2 (en) * 1996-06-11 2005-04-05 Unilin Beheer Bv, Besloten Vennootschap Floor panels with edge connectors
US20030029116A1 (en) * 1996-06-11 2003-02-13 Unilin Beheer B.V., Besloten Vennootschap Floor panels with edge connectors
US6226951B1 (en) * 1996-12-11 2001-05-08 Azar Holdings Ltd. Concrete building blocks
US20050102937A1 (en) * 1998-06-03 2005-05-19 Valinge Aluminium Ab Locking System And Flooring Board
US6021615A (en) * 1998-11-19 2000-02-08 Brown; Arthur J. Wood flooring panel
US6505452B1 (en) * 1999-06-30 2003-01-14 Akzenta Paneele + Profile Gmbh Panel and fastening system for panels
US6401415B1 (en) * 1999-11-05 2002-06-11 Industrias Auxiliares Faus, S.L. Direct laminated floor
US20020007609A1 (en) * 2000-01-24 2002-01-24 Darko Pervan Locking system for mechanical joining of floorboards and method for production thereof
US6521314B2 (en) * 2000-02-22 2003-02-18 Kronotec Ag Panel, particularly a floor panel
US6526719B2 (en) * 2000-03-07 2003-03-04 E.F.P. Floor Products Gmbh Mechanical panel connection
US6536178B1 (en) * 2000-03-10 2003-03-25 Pergo (Europe) Ab Vertically joined floor elements comprising a combination of different floor elements
US20030079820A1 (en) * 2000-03-31 2003-05-01 Jorgen Palsson Building panels
US7356971B2 (en) * 2000-04-10 2008-04-15 Valinge Innovation Ab Locking system for floorboards
US20080060308A1 (en) * 2000-04-10 2008-03-13 Valinge Innovation Ab Locking system for floorboards
US20060117696A1 (en) * 2000-04-10 2006-06-08 Valinge Aluminium Ab Locking system for floorboards
US7003925B2 (en) * 2000-04-10 2006-02-28 Valinge Aluminum Ab Locking system for floorboards
US20020056245A1 (en) * 2000-06-13 2002-05-16 Thiers Bernard Paul Joseph Floor covering
US20020020127A1 (en) * 2000-06-20 2002-02-21 Thiers Bernard Paul Joseph Floor covering
US20040045254A1 (en) * 2000-11-20 2004-03-11 Van Der Heijden Franciscus Antonius Maria Device for connecting to each other three flat elements
US7171791B2 (en) * 2001-01-12 2007-02-06 Valinge Innovation Ab Floorboards and methods for production and installation thereof
US6851241B2 (en) * 2001-01-12 2005-02-08 Valinge Aluminium Ab Floorboards and methods for production and installation thereof
US20030041545A1 (en) * 2001-06-27 2003-03-06 Stanchfield Oliver O. High friction joint, and interlocking joints for forming a generally planar surface, and method of assembling the same
US20080000194A1 (en) * 2001-09-20 2008-01-03 Valinge Innovation Ab Flooring and method for laying and manufacturing the same
US20080028713A1 (en) * 2001-09-20 2008-02-07 Valinge Innovation Ab Flooring and method for laying and manufacturing the same
US20060075713A1 (en) * 2001-09-20 2006-04-13 Valinge Aluminium Method Of Making A Floorboard And Method Of Making A Floor With The Floorboard
US6862857B2 (en) * 2001-12-04 2005-03-08 Kronotec Ag Structural panels and method of connecting same
US7022189B2 (en) * 2002-02-25 2006-04-04 Delle Vedove Levigatrici Spa Vacuum painting head and relative painting method
US20060048474A1 (en) * 2002-03-20 2006-03-09 Darko Pervan Floorboards with decorative grooves
US20060070333A1 (en) * 2002-04-03 2006-04-06 Darko Pervan Mechanical locking system for floorboards
US20080005997A1 (en) * 2002-04-22 2008-01-10 Valinge Innovation Ab Floorboards, flooring systems and method for manufacturing and installation thereof
US20080005998A1 (en) * 2002-04-22 2008-01-10 Valinge Innovation Ab Floorboards, flooring systems and method for manufacturing and installation thereof
US20040035079A1 (en) * 2002-08-26 2004-02-26 Evjen John M. Method and apparatus for interconnecting paneling
US20060032168A1 (en) * 2003-01-08 2006-02-16 Thiers Bernard P J Floor panel, its laying and manufacturing methods
US20050138881A1 (en) * 2003-03-06 2005-06-30 Darko Pervan Flooring systems and methods for installation
US7047697B1 (en) * 2003-11-25 2006-05-23 Homeland Vinyl Products, Inc. Modular decking planks
US20050108970A1 (en) * 2003-11-25 2005-05-26 Mei-Ling Liu Parquet block with woodwork joints
US20080005999A1 (en) * 2004-01-13 2008-01-10 Valinge Innovation Ab Floor covering and locking systems
US20060073320A1 (en) * 2004-10-05 2006-04-06 Valinge Aluminium Ab Appliance And Method For Surface Treatment Of A Board Shaped Material And Floorboard
US20060101769A1 (en) * 2004-10-22 2006-05-18 Valinge Aluminium Ab Mechanical locking system for floor panels
US20080000190A1 (en) * 2006-01-11 2008-01-03 Valinge Innovation Ab V-groove

Cited By (77)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7823359B2 (en) 1993-05-10 2010-11-02 Valinge Innovation Ab Floor panel with a tongue, groove and a strip
US9528276B2 (en) 1998-06-03 2016-12-27 Valinge Innovation Ab Locking system and flooring board
US9567753B2 (en) 1999-04-30 2017-02-14 Valinge Innovation Ab Locking system, floorboard comprising such a locking system, as well as method for making floorboards
US7779596B2 (en) 2000-01-24 2010-08-24 Valinge Innovation Ab Locking system for mechanical joining of floorboards and method for production thereof
US8234831B2 (en) 2000-01-24 2012-08-07 Välinge Innovation AB Locking system for mechanical joining of floorboards and method for production thereof
US8011155B2 (en) 2000-01-24 2011-09-06 Valinge Innovation Ab Locking system for mechanical joining of floorboards and method for production thereof
US20070119110A1 (en) * 2000-04-10 2007-05-31 Valinge Innovation Ab Locking System For Floorboards
US7356971B2 (en) 2000-04-10 2008-04-15 Valinge Innovation Ab Locking system for floorboards
US10975580B2 (en) 2001-07-27 2021-04-13 Valinge Innovation Ab Floor panel with sealing means
US8584423B2 (en) 2001-07-27 2013-11-19 Valinge Innovation Ab Floor panel with sealing means
US8250825B2 (en) 2001-09-20 2012-08-28 Välinge Innovation AB Flooring and method for laying and manufacturing the same
US8683698B2 (en) 2002-03-20 2014-04-01 Valinge Innovation Ab Method for making floorboards with decorative grooves
US7926234B2 (en) 2002-03-20 2011-04-19 Valinge Innovation Ab Floorboards with decorative grooves
US7757452B2 (en) 2002-04-03 2010-07-20 Valinge Innovation Ab Mechanical locking system for floorboards
US8245477B2 (en) 2002-04-08 2012-08-21 Välinge Innovation AB Floorboards for floorings
US8850769B2 (en) 2002-04-15 2014-10-07 Valinge Innovation Ab Floorboards for floating floors
US8359806B2 (en) 2002-04-22 2013-01-29 Valinge Innovation Ab Floorboards, flooring systems and methods for manufacturing and installation thereof
US7739849B2 (en) 2002-04-22 2010-06-22 Valinge Innovation Ab Floorboards, flooring systems and methods for manufacturing and installation thereof
US20080209837A1 (en) * 2002-04-22 2008-09-04 Valinge Innovation Ab Floorboards, flooring systems and methods for manufacturing and installation thereof
US8800150B2 (en) 2003-02-24 2014-08-12 Valinge Innovation Ab Floorboard and method for manufacturing thereof
US10137659B2 (en) 2003-02-24 2018-11-27 Valinge Innovation Ab Floorboard and method for manufacturing thereof
US9410328B2 (en) 2003-02-24 2016-08-09 Valinge Innovation Ab Floorboard and method for manufacturing thereof
US9605436B2 (en) 2003-12-02 2017-03-28 Valinge Innovation Ab Floorboard, system and method for forming a flooring, and a flooring formed thereof
US8293058B2 (en) 2003-12-02 2012-10-23 Valinge Innovation Ab Floorboard, system and method for forming a flooring, and a flooring formed thereof
US8613826B2 (en) 2003-12-02 2013-12-24 Valinge Innovation Ab Floorboard, system and method for forming a flooring, and a flooring formed thereof
US7886497B2 (en) 2003-12-02 2011-02-15 Valinge Innovation Ab Floorboard, system and method for forming a flooring, and a flooring formed thereof
US9970199B2 (en) 2003-12-02 2018-05-15 Valinge Innovation Ab Floorboard, system and method for forming a flooring, and a flooring formed thereof
US20080168737A1 (en) * 2004-01-13 2008-07-17 Valinge Innovation Ab Floor covering and locking systems
US20080005999A1 (en) * 2004-01-13 2008-01-10 Valinge Innovation Ab Floor covering and locking systems
US7762293B2 (en) 2004-01-13 2010-07-27 Valinge Innovation Ab Equipment for the production of building panels
US9322183B2 (en) 2004-01-13 2016-04-26 Valinge Innovation Ab Floor covering and locking systems
US8495849B2 (en) 2004-01-13 2013-07-30 Valinge Innovation Ab Floor covering and locking systems
US10138637B2 (en) 2004-01-13 2018-11-27 Valinge Innovation Ab Floor covering and locking systems
US9623433B2 (en) 2004-10-05 2017-04-18 Valinge Innovation Ab Appliance and method for surface treatment of a board shaped material and floorboard
US8042484B2 (en) 2004-10-05 2011-10-25 Valinge Innovation Ab Appliance and method for surface treatment of a board shaped material and floorboard
US8215078B2 (en) 2005-02-15 2012-07-10 Välinge Innovation Belgium BVBA Building panel with compressed edges and method of making same
US7841144B2 (en) 2005-03-30 2010-11-30 Valinge Innovation Ab Mechanical locking system for panels and method of installing same
US8061104B2 (en) 2005-05-20 2011-11-22 Valinge Innovation Ab Mechanical locking system for floor panels
US20090049787A1 (en) * 2005-06-16 2009-02-26 Akzenta Paneele + Profile Gmbh Floor panel provided with a core made of a derived timber product, a decorative layer and locking sections
US8375672B2 (en) * 2005-06-16 2013-02-19 Akzenta Paneele + Profile Gmbh Floor panel provided with a core made of a derived timber product, a decorative layer and locking sections
US20080241440A1 (en) * 2005-08-19 2008-10-02 Bauer Jorg R Detachably-Affixable, Flat Components, in Particular Floor Covering Parts, and Component
US20070068110A1 (en) * 2005-09-28 2007-03-29 Bing-Hong Liu Floor panel with coupling means and methods of making the same
US8511031B2 (en) * 2006-01-12 2013-08-20 Valinge Innovation Ab Set F floorboards with overlapping edges
US11066836B2 (en) 2006-01-12 2021-07-20 Valinge Innovation Ab Floorboards comprising a decorative edge part in a resilient surface layer
US9222267B2 (en) 2006-01-12 2015-12-29 Valinge Innovation Ab Set of floorboards having a resilient groove
US10450760B2 (en) 2006-01-12 2019-10-22 Valinge Innovation Ab Floorboards comprising a decorative edge part in a resilient surface layer
US20120279154A1 (en) * 2006-01-12 2012-11-08 Valinge Innovation Ab Resilient groove
US9765530B2 (en) 2006-01-12 2017-09-19 Valinge Innovation Ab Floorboards comprising a decorative edge part in a resilient surface layer
US11702847B2 (en) 2006-01-12 2023-07-18 Valinge Innovation Ab Floorboards comprising a decorative edge part in a resilient surface layer
GB2436570A (en) * 2006-03-30 2007-10-03 Sonae Floorboard with rebated side and end edges
US8202389B2 (en) * 2006-06-20 2012-06-19 Pt. Tanjung Kreasi Parquet Industry Engineered wood floor using core material with vertical glue-line position
US20070292656A1 (en) * 2006-06-20 2007-12-20 Pt. Tanjung Kreasi Parquet Industry Engineered wood floor using core material with vertical glue-line position
US9084516B2 (en) * 2007-05-31 2015-07-21 Taplanes Limited Joint system for the manufacturing of a shower cubicle
US20110056014A1 (en) * 2007-05-31 2011-03-10 Taplanes Limited Joint System For The Manufacturing Of A Shower Cubicle
US9249581B2 (en) 2009-09-04 2016-02-02 Valinge Innovation Ab Resilient floor
US8756899B2 (en) 2009-09-04 2014-06-24 Valinge Innovation Ab Resilient floor
US11725395B2 (en) 2009-09-04 2023-08-15 Välinge Innovation AB Resilient floor
US8806832B2 (en) 2011-03-18 2014-08-19 Inotec Global Limited Vertical joint system and associated surface covering system
US10000935B2 (en) 2011-03-18 2018-06-19 Inotec Global Limited Vertical joint system and associated surface covering system
US9103126B2 (en) 2011-03-18 2015-08-11 Inotec Global Limited Vertical joint system and associated surface covering system
US9314936B2 (en) 2011-08-29 2016-04-19 Valinge Flooring Technology Ab Mechanical locking system for floor panels
US10047529B2 (en) 2011-10-03 2018-08-14 Unilin, Bvba Panel and method for manufacturing panels
US20140242342A1 (en) * 2011-10-03 2014-08-28 Unilin, Bvba Panel and Method for Manufacturing Panels
US9695600B2 (en) * 2011-10-03 2017-07-04 Unilin Bvba Panel and method for manufacturing panels
US20130118105A1 (en) * 2011-11-10 2013-05-16 Parquet By Dian Composite membrane of wood floor diaphragm
US20130313046A1 (en) * 2012-05-24 2013-11-28 John Birk Adjustable length scaffolding and method therefor
US10301830B2 (en) 2013-03-25 2019-05-28 Valinge Innovation Ab Floorboards provided with a mechanical locking system
US11898356B2 (en) 2013-03-25 2024-02-13 Välinge Innovation AB Floorboards provided with a mechanical locking system
US20140318895A1 (en) * 2013-04-29 2014-10-30 John Birk Adjustable length scaffolding and method therefor
US10493731B2 (en) 2014-07-16 2019-12-03 Valinge Innovation Ab Method to produce a thermoplastic wear resistant foil
US10059084B2 (en) 2014-07-16 2018-08-28 Valinge Innovation Ab Method to produce a thermoplastic wear resistant foil
US10501943B1 (en) * 2016-02-19 2019-12-10 Custom Finish Wood Flooring Llc Systems and methods for installing flooring
US10975581B2 (en) * 2016-12-01 2021-04-13 Unilin Bv Set of floor panels and method for composing thereof
US20190309526A1 (en) * 2016-12-01 2019-10-10 Unilin, Bvba Set of floor panels and method for composing thereof
US10941578B2 (en) 2018-01-10 2021-03-09 Valinge Innovation Ab Subfloor joint
US10801213B2 (en) 2018-01-10 2020-10-13 Valinge Innovation Ab Subfloor joint
US11578495B2 (en) 2018-12-05 2023-02-14 Valinge Innovation Ab Subfloor joint

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US8495849B2 (en) 2013-07-30
US9322183B2 (en) 2016-04-26
US20160201338A1 (en) 2016-07-14
US20140020325A1 (en) 2014-01-23
US10138637B2 (en) 2018-11-27
US20080168737A1 (en) 2008-07-17

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US10138637B2 (en) Floor covering and locking systems
US7516588B2 (en) Floor covering and locking systems
EP2407289B1 (en) Floor covering
US9447587B2 (en) Methods and arrangements relating to surface forming of building panels
US7677001B2 (en) Flooring systems and methods for installation

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: VALINGE ALUMINIUM AB, SWEDEN

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:PERVAN, DARKO;REEL/FRAME:016365/0680

Effective date: 20050203

AS Assignment

Owner name: VALINGE INNOVATION AB, SWEDEN

Free format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:VALINGE ALUMINIUM AB;REEL/FRAME:028885/0415

Effective date: 20030610

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- AFTER EXAMINER'S ANSWER OR BOARD OF APPEALS DECISION